( CNN ) -- There 's nothing like getting stuck into a good book -- but getting stuck in a good book store is a different matter . Just ask David Willis , a tourist from Texas who was inadvertently locked inside a London retailer for several hours , after strolling in minutes before the store was closing . Willis , from Dallas , entered the Waterstones store near London 's Trafalgar Square on Thursday evening to use the store 's WiFi . `` I walked into the store about five minutes before 9 p.m. , '' he told the UK 's ITV television network . `` I walked in right past employees and I needed to use the internet ... I peeked up on the second floor and saw there were chairs and a table up there so I walked up there and was using the internet for 10 or 15 minutes and all the lights were on upstairs . `` I get ready to leave and I walk down and it 's completely dark and the doors were locked . '' Willis said despite setting an alarm off by trying to open the doors and speaking to a security guard and police via telephone , no one came to his aid . After several hours of waiting , he took to social media to broadcast his plight , posting on Twitter and Instagram . That did the trick . As his messages were retweeted thousands of times , a Waterstones employee spotted them and secured his release . The bookstore posted its own Twitter message shortly afterward , announcing : `` We 're pleased to announce that @ DWill_ is a free man once more . Thanks for your concern and tweets ! '' After three hours in captivity , Willis followed that with his own Twitter declaration : `` I 'm free '' . Speaking the morning after his ordeal , Willis told ITV : `` I 'm very tired , I did not sleep very much last night but it feels good to be free . '' READ MORE : The world 's coolest bookstores .
Texan Chris Willis broke into London book ##makers to use free WiFi . Willis made phone calls after realizing he was locked in , but no one initially came to his aid . He was released after three hours when his social media posts were spotted .