A Greenbrier County man was arrested on the evening of Monday, Jan. 4 after a series of alleged home-robberies. Derrick Steven Adkins, 28, of Poplar Street in Rainelle, has been charged with petit larceny, grand larceny and burglary. Adkins is currently being held in Southern Regional Jail on a $20,000 surety or cash bond.
On Thursday, August 20, 2020, officers were dispatched to a residence on Center Street in Rainelle in response to an alleged breaking and entering. According to the criminal complaint, the victim advised officers that someone (later identified as Adkins) had entered her home and stolen several pieces of jewelry. The victim stated that the financial value of the jewelry was approximately $720.
One week later, on Aug. 27, a second breaking and entering complaint was received. Officers were dispatched to a residence on Poplar Street in Rainelle to investigate. Although not home at the time of the break-in, the victim advised officers that, upon her return, she found that numerous pieces of jewelry had been stolen from the residence. According to the complaint, the victim stated that the perpetrator (later identified as Adkins) had entered her home through the front window after removing the air-conditioning unit. The stolen jewelry was valued at $5,568.
Approximately one month later, on Monday, Sept.28, officers were notified of yet another home-invasion in the Rainelle area. Upon arriving at the residence, officers were advised by the victim that someone had entered the residence through a back window. According to the criminal complaint, several items, including cordless power tools and a flat-screen television, had been stolen. The victim stated that the financial value of the stolen items exceeded $1,000.
Shortly after 11 p.m., officers located Adkins and obtained his statement. According to the criminal complaints associated with each incident, Adkins admitted to all three break-ins. Adkins allegedly stated that he entered the residence on Center Street through a side window where an AC fan was located. Adkins allegedly further admitted to stealing several pieces of jewelry and trading them for drugs.
The complaint states that Adkins then admitted to the Poplar Street break-in. Adkins allegedly advised officers that entered the residence through a front window where an air conditioning unit had been located. Adkins allegedly further admitted to searching the home before stealing several pieces of jewelry and exiting the residence through the back door. The complaint states that Adkins once again traded the jewelry for drugs.
According to the criminal complaint, Adkins confessed that he, along with an accomplice, Chris Reed, entered the third residence through a back window. (Officers also obtained a statement from Reed, which allegedly corroborates Adkins’ account.) Adkins stated that the two men had stolen several items, including the power tools and television, and took them back to Reed’s home before also trading them for drugs.
