Down the hatch

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MARY REICHARD, HOST: New Yorkers are used to strange sights, but even by Big Apple standards, this one was weird.

Security cameras in Queens captured three people stopping in the middle of the night, decked out in hip waders, protective gear, and headlamps.

SOUND: [Manhole cover scraping open]

Then they pried open a manhole cover.

One by one, they climbed into the city sewer.

The last person paused...

SOUND: [Manhole cover closing]

...and sealed the cover shut.

Now, police say similar groups have been spotted entering and exiting sewers in Brooklyn as well.

Some appeared to spend hours underground.

Now, no damage has been found and no arrests have been made. City officials stress that entering the sewers is illegal and dangerous.

But whatever these people were looking for, they apparently thought it was worth enduring the odor to find it.

Ew!

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