One photo of a sunlit office pod can pull in thousands of likes, but it’s likely that the person who took it spent the night in a Westchester County holding cell.
That trade keeps happening at the former IBM complex in Somers, New York, and most of the people making it never see it coming.
The 150-acre site, with its pod-shaped towers and Brutalist concrete, has turned into a magnet for urban exploration, or "urbex." TikTok and Instagram feeds make the place look like a free outdoor studio, but the Westchester County court system sees something different.
What’s Urban Exploring?
Urban exploration, or urbex, means slipping into abandoned or off-limits buildings to photograph and film them. Explorers chase decaying factories, shuttered hospitals, empty malls, and sites like the IBM Somers complex for the eerie look and the easy content.
The hobby treats "abandoned" as an open invitation, and the gap between "abandoned" and "unlawful" is where the legal trouble starts.
Enforcement Has Caught Up to the Trend
To prosecutors, the same footage documents a steady run of criminal trespass, burglary, and reckless endangerment cases. Enforcement has tightened to match. In April 2026, more than 28 arrests were made at the site, and the New York State Police now patrol the property regularly.
The clip built for engagement doubles as evidence against the person holding the camera. A geotag hands investigators the location, the timestamp confirms when you were there, and the footage often shows your face.
As of April 2026, here’s what’s been reported from IBM Somers:
- 28+ arrests (main charge of Criminal Trespass, 3rd Degree)
- 1 9mm weapon seized
- 1 reported arson incident
What Trespassing at IBM Somers Actually Costs You
Stepping onto the property opens three separate kinds of trouble. One is criminal, one is civil, and the third endangers others.
Criminal Trespass in the Third Degree (NYPL § 140.10)
Plenty of explorers assume an abandoned building with no guard at the door is fair game. This isn’t true.
Under NYPL § 140.10, you commit criminal trespass in the third degree when you knowingly enter or remain on real property fenced or otherwise enclosed to keep intruders out.
The IBM site falls into this category fairly easily:
- Posted Signage: "No Trespassing" signs are visible at every entry point.
- Perimeter Fencing: Chain link and welded barriers surround the property.
- Active Patrols: New York State Police monitor the site and respond within minutes.
Walking past a welded door is not a gray area. You knew the property was closed, and you went in anyway. Knowing the site was off-limits and entering regardless is the entire offense.
Injuries You'll Pay for Yourself
Some explorers picture a payday if they get hurt on site, but courts rarely allow it.
Under premises liability law, a property owner owes a duty of care to people on the land, but that duty shrinks sharply once the person on the property is an adult trespasser.
The hazards at IBM Somers are open and obvious. Exposed wiring, missing floor sections, and unstable structures sit in plain view. If you get injured while filming, a New York court will most likely leave you with the medical bills and no claim against the owner.
Charges That Continue to Stack
The March 30th fire at the complex turned a trespassing problem into a first-responder emergency.
Picture a fire crew working through a 1.2-million-square-foot building where explorers have chained doors shut to block access. Every locked exit slows the response and raises the danger for the people sent in to put the fire out.
Set a fire inside a building like this, and you move from trespass into arson territory. Arson carries some of the steepest penalties in the New York penal code. Blocking or hindering the crews responding to that fire can add an interference with governmental administration charge on top.
Think Twice Before You Go Urban Exploring in New York
A 15-second clip is not worth a criminal record that follows you through every job application, lease, and background check for years.
The New York State Police have been clear about the IBM Somers site. There are officers patrolling it who are making arrests.
If the footage looks worth it to you, be sure to run the math on a conviction first.
Looking for Counsel? Talk to Proto, Sachs & Brown, LLP.
If you have already been arrested, you're not the first call we've taken this month, and you won't be the last. Our Westchester defense attorneys at Proto, Sachs & Brown, LLP bring more than 100 years of combined experience to criminal cases across Westchester County, including former prosecutors who know how the other side builds these files.
Call us at (914) 840-5104 or reach out online today for a free, confidential consultation.
Disclaimer: This blog is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. If you are facing charges related to trespassing or burglary, consult with a licensed attorney in the state of New York.