The sewer mystery that has puzzled New Yorkers for months has now reached the Bronx.
Video obtained by News 12 shows a man waiting on Nereid Avenue just after 5 a.m. on Oct. 1. Moments later, he pulls open a manhole, and one by one, men climb out and disappear into the darkness.
The NYPD says it happened in front of 2010 Nereid Ave. Police say three men came out of the manhole and left the area. A criminal trespass report is on file. No arrests have been made.
Neighbors were stunned by the video.
“That’s pretty weird,” said Jorge, a Wakefield resident.
“It just looks nasty,” said Kayla, another resident.
Jorge also worries about the risks.
“You don’t know what can be down there. They could get, like, diseases,” he said.
Why go down there?
Police say people have been entering the sewer system after storms, searching for valuables and scrap metal.
Stanley, a plumber with 30 years of experience, says the buildings on a block connect to the main sewer line beneath the street, and whatever goes in “will settle at the bottom.”
“People are looking for a way to make a living,” he said.
Sightings across the city
The Bronx incident is the latest in a string of similar sightings:
Hamilton Heights: Early Sunday, Oct. 11, a 911 caller reported at least three men going into a manhole near West 141st Street and Hamilton Place.
Manhattan: Around 4 a.m. on Aug. 18, video posted to social media showed men in headlamps and protective clothing climbing out of a manhole.
Brooklyn: In May, two groups of people were seen coming out of manholes in Williamsburg and Gravesend.