Three people enter Hamilton Heights sewer system in Manhattan mystery

Police are investigating after three unidentified individuals descended into a Hamilton Heights sewer early Sunday. Officers found no one at the location, and no arrests have been made.

Witnesses reported seeing the group enter the underground network around 12:52 a.m., according to police. The event occurred on West 141st Street between Amsterdam Avenue and Broadway.

Officers arrived shortly after the report. The individuals were already gone.

“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.

Two days earlier, five people climbed out of an access point near 525 East 82nd Street. That sighting occurred early Friday morning on the Upper East Side. The group drove away in a vehicle, according to police.

The occurrences are part of recent reports across the five boroughs dating to at least May. Police are unsure whether the incidents connect to each other.

Both events remain under active investigation by officers. No motives have been confirmed by authorities.

Greg Sanfilippo is the vice president of intelligence at Doyle Security Services. He is also a retired NYPD counterterrorism sergeant.

Sanfilippo said some people may enter the sewer system in search of valuables.

Municipal sewer systems carry wastewater and storm runoff beneath city streets through underground pipes. Public access to these utility lines is restricted to authorized workers.

Police have not announced any suspects. Manhattan detectives continue to review both scenes.