NY police investigate TikTok video of three men emerging from Manhattan manhole
A TikTok clip showing three men in headlamps climbing out of a manhole near Penn Station has prompted an NYPD and DEP investigation, with officials warning that such activity is illegal and hazardous.
A TikTok video posted early Tuesday captured three men wearing headlamps and overalls pulling themselves out of a manhole at 32nd Street and Seventh Avenue, a short distance from Penn Station and Madison Square Garden. Police confirmed the footage was recorded just after 4 a.m.
The incident follows two earlier sightings of individuals emerging from manholes in Williamsburg and Gravesend, which also triggered an NYPD probe. According to city officials, the underground investigations suggest the individuals were likely scavenging for items that had fallen into the sewer system, a practice sometimes pursued by people searching for lost wallets or jewelry.
The New York City Department of Environmental Protection said an inspection of the sewer infrastructure at the site found no damage. A department spokesperson said the NYPD is actively investigating the latest video and no arrests have been made.
Authorities emphasized that entering manholes is illegal and extremely dangerous. > "Sewers can contain numerous hazards, including noxious and potentially deadly gases, unstable surfaces, flooding risks, and confined spaces," the DEP said. "For these reasons, members of the public should never enter a pipe, drain, catch basin, manhole, or outfall."