‘Doo Doo Water and a Few Needles’: Inside the Mystery of the New York City Manhole Prowlers
Key takeaways
- On May 5, security footage showed three people wearing hip waders entering a manhole in Queens.
- The New York Police Department has speculated that the men are scavengers looking for jewelery, guns, or other valuables.
- The creators who spoke to WIRED say they didn’t recognize anyone from the video footage.
Why this matters: a development in AI with implications for how people work, create, and decide.
Photo-Illustration: Darrell Jackson; Getty Images Comment Loader Save Story Save this story Comment Loader Save Story Save this story In recent days, a fantastical question has captured the attention of New Yorkers and local tabloids: Who is popping in and out of manholes across the city, and what are they doing in the sewer system?
On May 5, security footage showed three people wearing hip waders entering a manhole in Queens. Then, in the early morning hours of May 29, another camera captured a group of people exiting a manhole in Brooklyn. The same day, a different group was seen emerging from another Brooklyn manhole, miles away from the first location. Some wore headlamps, and some were carrying what appeared to be shovels and flashlights.
The New York Police Department has speculated that the men are scavengers looking for jewelery, guns, or other valuables. But no one knows for sure, so WIRED consulted with several urban exploration content creators active in New York City. On platforms like TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram, “urbex” creators—typically teenage boys or young men who film together in small groups—explore abandoned or difficult-to-access spaces like defunct factories, dilapidated mansions, and underground tunnels.