The NYPD has determined why unidentified individuals regularly descend into the city’s sewer system. According to ABC7NY, these individuals are migrants who explore the underground infrastructure in search of scrap metal and other items of value.
Law enforcement attention to this practice intensified following an incident near Penn Station. Around 4:00 a.m. on August 18, surveillance cameras captured three people emerging from a manhole on Seventh Avenue; they were wearing protective coveralls and headlamps. Police link these forays to a practice of scavenging for recyclables common in Venezuela, the country of origin for many migrants who have arrived in New York in recent years.
The individuals involved in the August incident were not detained. However, police had previously arrested four people in Brooklyn and Queens following similar incidents. They were charged with minor offenses, but the cases were subsequently dropped or dismissed by the prosecutor’s office.
New York authorities warn that unauthorized entry into sewer systems is prohibited and poses a serious threat to life. Underground hazards include toxic gas poisoning, structural collapses, and sudden surges of water. Police continue to review surveillance footage in an effort to identify other participants in such excursions.
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