Stolen lottery tickets prove unlucky for Williamsburg man

A Williamsburg man is facing a burglary charge after allegedly taking about $500 worth of lottery tickets from a Williamsburg grocery store late Saturday night.
Williamsburg Police Detective Wayne Bird charged Joshua Lee Adkins, 19, of 274 Rains Farm Road, with third-degree burglary about 1:25 p.m. Sunday.
According to his arrest citation, Adkins, who was employed at the store, entered IGA just before closing time, went into the stock room, climbed on top of a cooler, and waited for employees to leave, Bird wrote.
“He had worked there about three to four weeks. They had just given him some keys to the back door because they intended for him to start closing,” Bird said. “He waited until the store closed. Once the store closed he pretty much went up, and cleaned the lottery dispenser out of lottery tickets.
“He then went back to the back room, and used his key to unlock the back door, and exited through there. About eight to 10 minutes later, he went to the Pilot station where he cashed in two winning tickets, and we tracked him through the lottery commission.”
Bird said the clerk at Pilot knew Adkins, and was able to identify him.
Adkins showed up for work the next day, and police arrested him there, Bird said.
“We took him into the back room, and told him he was under arrest for burglary. He cooperated with us, and showed us where the rest of the lottery tickets were at,” Bird said.
Adkins was also caught on a security tape inside the store, Bird said adding that Adkins is now a former IGA employee.
Adkin’s lawyer, Ron Reynolds, entered a not guilty plea on his behalf Monday morning.
Judge Cathy Prewitt scheduled a March 28 preliminary hearing in the case.
Williamsburg Police Officer Tresa Gray assisted Bird with the investigation.