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Groups seen going in and out of two Brooklyn manholes, NYPD says
By
Ryan Kost
Published May 30, 2026
Modified Jun 1, 2026
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By
Ryan Kost
Published May 30, 2026
Modified Jun 1, 2026
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Police are investigating after groups of people were spotted entering and exiting two manholes on opposite ends of Brooklyn early Friday morning.
In Gravesend, seven unidentified individuals entered the sewer system near McDonald Avenue and Colin Place at around 11 p.m. Thursday, according to the NYPD. They were seen leaving around 2 a.m.
Surveillance video from the Flatbush Scoop shows the group exiting the manhole one by one before gathering near two parked cars, where they appeared to remove soiled clothing and clean themselves off. No arrests were made, police said.
In another incident in Williamsburg, eight unidentified individuals entered the sewer system near Heyward Street and Bedford Avenue around 1 a.m. Friday, according to the NYPD. They exited around 3:40 a.m. and left in a vehicle. No arrests were made and the investigation is ongoing.
Officers conducted searches at both locations and found nothing, according to the NYPD. The 62nd Precinct posted on X that the area is “safe and free of hazards.”
The city’s Department of Environmental Protection said it had inspected the sewer infrastructure at the Gravesend location and said it found no damage. It stressed entering sewers is both illegal and dangerous, with hazards including noxious gases, unstable surfaces and flooding risks.
It is unclear whether the two incidents are connected.
Correction: This story has been updated to correct an editing error that misnamed the Department of Environmental Protection.
Tagged
brooklyn
public safety
Ryan Kost
Ryan Kost is a reporter on the day-of news desk, where he covers breaking news and writes enterprise stories about jails, courts, prosecutors and government accountability. His work focuses on the public institutions that shape life in New York. Before joining the newsroom, he lead a multi-part investigation with Columbia Journalism Investigations and New York Focus into how New York prosecutors handle wrongful conviction claims. He's also been a staff writer at The San Francisco Chronicle, The Associated Press and The Oregonian. Got a tip? Signal: ryankost.20
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