NEW YORK, July 26 (UPI) -- Four people have been pricked by needles on New York City beaches in the past three weeks, police say.

Most recently, an on-duty lifeguard stepped on a needle at Rockaway Beach in Queens Tuesday, WNBC-TV, New York, reported.

All the other incidents happened at Staten Island beaches. A 63-year-old woman stepped on a hypodermic needle on Cedar Grove Beach on July 16. On July 14, a 37-year-old man placed his hand on a needle while sitting on South Beach. And on July 4, a 40-year-old man was pricked a needle also at South Beach.

"You don't know where these needles come from," said Crystal Matis of Elm Park, who was at the beach Wednesday. "It's very scary."

The Parks Department said Wednesday it conducts daily beach cleanings, but tight budgets only allow for so much sand maintenance.

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4 people stuck by needles on NYC beaches