Three people seen entering sewer in Hamilton Heights manhole mystery

Police are investigating after witnesses saw three people go inside a sewer system in Hamilton Heights early Sunday. Officers found no one at the location, and no arrests have been made.

Witnesses reported seeing the people enter the sewer on West 141st Street between Amsterdam and Broadway around 12:52 a.m., police said. Investigators said they are unsure whether the incident connects to previous reports across the five boroughs.

“Usually I used to hear stuff like this happen further way downtown Manhattan, and this is the upper part of Manhattan. Usually we don’t hear stories like that,” said David Ford, a Hamilton Heights neighbor.

The incident occurred two days after five people were seen climbing out of a manhole on the Upper East Side. That earlier group emerged near 525 East 82nd Street early Friday morning. They drove away in a vehicle, according to police.

The Friday event remains under active investigation by officers. It is not clear if the two incidents are related, according to police. People have entered or emerged from subterranean openings across the city since at least May.

Greg Sanfilippo, vice president of intelligence at Doyle Security Services and a retired NYPD counterterrorism sergeant, said some people may enter the sewer system to search for valuables.

Municipal sewer systems carry stormwater and wastewater through underground conduits beneath city streets. Police departments routinely inspect subterranean access points to protect public safety and utility infrastructure.

Sunday’s incident remains under investigation by police in Hamilton Heights.