NEW YORK CITY — Three unidentified people were seen climbing out of a sewer on Manhattan’s Upper East Side before fleeing in two vehicles early Wednesday morning, according to the NYPD.

Police said officers responded to a 911 call about a possible crime at about 4:35 a.m. near 535 Park Ave. at East 61st Street. When officers arrived, they learned three individuals had exited a sewer and left the area, traveling northbound on Park Avenue.

The incident was captured on an NYPD surveillance camera, authorities said.

One vehicle was described as a silver sedan driven by a white man wearing a black hoodie. The second was described as a four-door vehicle driven by a man wearing a black shirt and gray shorts.

No arrests have been made and the investigation remains ongoing, police said.

The unusual sighting comes as police maintain heightened security in areas surrounding the United Nations General Assembly, which has brought world leaders and international delegations to New York City this week.

The incident is the latest in a series of reports involving people entering or emerging from sewer and manhole systems across the New York area in recent months. Similar incidents have been reported near Penn Station, in Queens, Brooklyn and on Long Island. In some cases, those involved told police they were searching underground for valuables.

The city’s Department of Environmental Protection has previously warned that entering the sewer system without authorization is illegal and dangerous.

Copyright © 2026 KGO-TV. All Rights Reserved.