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West Virginia man breaks into neighboring businesses by making a tunnel

Jerrylee Adams of West Virginia was arrested for burglary and other charges.

FREDERICKSBURG, Va. — A West Virginia man was arrested for a burglary that looked like something straight out of the classic film "The Shawshank Redemption." Deputies in Stafford County say the man used a tunnel to break in to a neighboring business over the weekend. 

According to investigators, deputies were called to Auto Chiefs on Von Tyler Way in Fredericksburg for an alarm at the business just before 11 a.m. on Jan. 7. When deputies got on scene, they saw signs of a break-in – not only at Auto Chiefs, but also at the business next door, called Carplug. Deputies spoke to a man on scene who identified himself as Jerrylee Adams. 

Adams, 35, told the deputies he was at the business to do drywall work, but when the deputies called the businesses, neither of them said they knew Adams. Deputies detained Adams and continued their investigation.

The deputies learned that Adams initially tried to break into Auto Chiefs using a crowbar, but was not successful. Instead, he used a broken panel in the garage door to get inside. Once inside, deputies say Adams tunneled to the adjacent business, Carplug.

Credit: Stafford County Sheriff's Office

While there, deputies say Adams took car keys, a company hat and a pen. Adams told deputies he was going to write a note to the business that he was taking the vehicle for a "test drive."

He was on his way to the vehicle when he ran into the deputies responding to the alarm call. He had all the stolen items on him. 

Adams was arrested and charged with two counts of statutory burglary, attempted grand larceny, destruction of property and other charges. 

He is being held at the Rappahannock Regional Jail without bond. 

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