South Fallsburg: Catskills Summer Camp Burglarized In Upstate NY

By FrumNews.com 

Sullivan County, NY — On Thursday, May 2nd, Fallsburg Police responded to a burglary at a Frum Summer camp grounds in South Fallsburg. The report indicated that multiple units in the camp had been burglarized, and their household appliances missing.

Fallsburg police detectives conducting an investigation located two suspects, identified as Jeffrey Chack and Krysta Hand, who had unlawfully occupied one of the homes for an extended period of time. During the investigation, it was discovered that the suspects stole appliances out of the units and sold them while unlawfully occupying the property.

According to Fallsburg Police, the investigation showed that Mr. Chack was also responsible for a separate burglary of a residence on Hillside Place in South Fallsburg, where construction tools and other household items had been stolen.

Both of the burglars, who are Fallsburg local residents, were charged with Burglary in the 3rd degree and Grand Larceny in the 3rd degree—both felonies.

The false rumors of illegal migrants in the Catskills

Prior rumors that illegal migrants have been squatting in bungalow colonies and summer camps in the Catskills, were squashed by a special report on FrumNews.com.

As we reported at the time, NYC released a blueprint named “The Road Forward,” aimed at fixing the migrant crisis. It says the city is “in the early stage of being able to assist “asylum seekers” in relocating to their preferred city of choice.” The blueprint included relocating and housing illegal migrants outside NYC in Upstate NY, Including Rockland County, and Sullivan County in the Catskills Mountains.

Tucked away deep in the blueprint was a new “migrant workforce training pilot” program to house illegal aliens upstate to earn a post-secondary credential or degree, and live rent free in college residence halls, including SUNY Sullivan College in Loch Sheldrake, NY, near Liberty and Center for Discovery in Harris, NY, near Monticello and South Fallsburg—with full accommodations generously sponsored from your tax dollar by both the NYC Mayor and NYS Governor.

This migrant program at the time caused rumors — claiming that illegals have been squatting in bungalow colonies and summer camps — which quickly went viral on WhatsApp and social media.

Local Askunim, who reside year-round upstate, told FrumNews.com at the time, that, to the best of their knowledge, no illegal migrants had been found squatting in the Catskills Mountains.

For the general public, this recent May incident is a rare case of local squatters at the summer camps and bungalows in the Catskills outside of the summer. But it isn’t proof that the public should worry that there are illegal migrants squatting in the Catskills.

(However, for those who manage the camps and bungalows in the Catskills, it is a concern that they shouldn’t take lightly).

Is New York doing anything about squatting?

Short Answer: Yes!

Long answer: Not enough.

Earlier this month, FrumNews.com reported that New York legislators finally changed the tenant protection laws, which have enabled squatters to illegally take possession of a home without the homeowner’s knowledge.

The changes came after well-publicized clashes between squatters and homeowners in recent months, some even resulting in the arrest of the homeowner or hundreds of thousands in debt, lawmakers finally realized that the current situation is untenable.

New York’s fiscal year 2025 state budget agreement, which recently went into effect, specifically excludes squatters from tenant protections under New York State law. The new law defines a “squatter” as someone staying on a property without permission from its owner or the owner’s representative. The changes will make it easier for police to remove squatters without years of litigation in landlord-tenant court. (Until now it took only 30 days of occupancy for a squatter to be considered a “legal tenant” under New York City law).