KIAMESHA LAKE, NY — A union mason worker who had been working at the Kartrite water park project has been arrested for burglaries committed in Sullivan County and elsewhere after cashing a stolen check.

A home in the Town of Thompson was robbed on July 14 and deputies from the Sullivan County Sheriff’s office investigated.  Some checks and jewelry had been taken.  The burglar cashed one of the checks in Milford, PA, and few days later went to cash another in the Village of Bloomingburg, but the teller became suspicious and the man ran away.  A bank in the Town of Wallkill later cashed a check, but officers got a picture of the suspect from surveillance video.

Nine days after the first burglary, in July 23, the suspect went back to the same address and robbed the home a second time. By this time, detectives believed they were looking for a construction worker on a job in the area.  Ultimate the investigation led to the Kartrite Hotel and Indoor Waterpark, which is under construction in Kiamesha Lake, where Justin Georgia, 30, of Thompkins County was arrested.

Georgia’s car was searched and detectives found some $5,000 worth of tools allegedly stolen from the Kartrite work site, along with a folder containing copies of drivers licenses and other information about Georgia’s co-workers.

Georgia was extradited to Watkins Glen were he was wanted for two burglaries that were committee in March.  According to a press release from the Sullivan County Sheriff’s Office, “When the investigation was complete, detectives realized that Georgia was committing the burglaries on his lunch hour and then returning to work at the construction site. It is believed that in some cases he drove upstate after getting off work, committed burglaries and then returned to Sullivan County later that evening. Police in Ithaca are investigating Georgia in connection with burglaries in their area.”

Georgia has been charged in Sullivan County for burglary and possession of stolen property. He was locked up without bail. He is due in court on November 14. Sullivan County Sheriff Mike Schiff expressed relief at Georgia’s arrest. “This guy was a one man crime wave”, he said. “I’m glad we got him off the street”.