By Nathan Hardin
nhardin@salisburypost.com
CLEVELAND — A Backside Drive man was arrested Sunday morning after authorities said he robbed the same convenience store he was previously convicted of robbing.
Adam Hellard, 21, broke into Jones Steele Store on Chenault Road Sunday morning, according to the Rowan County Sheriff’s Office. Deputies found .22 caliber ammunition, and Camel and Newport cigarettes missing.
Before responding to the break-in call, deputies stopped Hellard about 2:30 a.m. on Cool Springs Road.
He was driving without a license, a revoked tag and no insurance, officers said.
According to an arrest report, Hellard had .22 caliber bullets and two packs of Newport cigarettes in the car.
He also had a pry bar, pair of gloves, ski mask, hatchet and empty black holster, which he told officers he wore “because he thought it was cool,” the report said.
Hellard was cited on the scene and the vehicle was towed. The bullets and cigarettes were left in the car as evidence.
After responding to the store’s break-in, authorities compared the bullets from Hellard’s vehicle.
Deputies arrested the 21-year-old at his Backside Drive home about 4:30 p.m.
He was charged with felony breaking and entering, felony larceny and felony possession of burglary tools.
Hellard has a history of breaking and entering, according to the North Carolina Department of Corrections’ website database.
In fact, Hellard has a history of breaking and entering into Jones Steel Store. In 2011, he was convicted of felony possession of a firearm by a felon, felony breaking and entering and felony larceny after breaking and entering stemming from a burglary at the Chenault Road business in 2010.
Officers caught Hellard in 2010 after they saw his car backed up to Jones Steele Store. When the deputy checked on the vehicle, no one was inside but the vehicle was filled with stolen merchandise and a driver’s license was inside the car.
As the officer was going to check on Hellard’s residence, another deputy happened to stop Hellard as he was driving down Cool Springs Road.
He was given 36 months of probation after his conviction last November.
Hellard was in jail Monday afternoon under a $50,000 bond.
Contact reporter Nathan Hardin at 704-797-4246.
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