Three people, including a Vinemont woman, have been jailed on burglary charges in connection with a break-in and theft at the post office at Joppa.

A fourth suspect in the break-in is also awaiting extradition to Cullman from Madison County, where he had been apprehended on unrelated charges.

Tessa Jean McCay, 24, of Vinemont; Andrew Cleveland Rogers, 28, of Arab; and Brett Michael Baker, 34, of Albertville were all arrested Dec. 28 and charged with 3rd degree burglary for their alleged role in breaking into and burglarizing the Joppa post office earlier that same day.

Rogers faces additional charges of third-degree domestic violence and unlawful possession of a controlled substance.

The fourth suspect, 34 year-old Clay Austin Parker of Arab, is awaiting extradition to Cullman County following his Dec. 28 arrest in Huntsville.

According to the Cullman County Sheriff’s Office, the suspects allegedly went to the post office around 3 a.m. on Dec. 28. They allegedly gained access to the building by using a hammer to smash a window. Once inside, they allegedly used a crowbar to enter the mail handling area, and again used the crowbar to force open a safe.

“Then they removed one HP Computer and HP Monitor, a Cash Register, Two Postal hand held scanners, cash, US Postage Stamps, US Postal Money Orders and assorted mail and packages which were stored inside of the post office,” the sheriff’s office said in a press release.

“While responding to an unrelated incident a few hours later, CCSO obtained information identifying the suspects as persons of interest in the Post Office Burglary,” the release continued.

“Additional investigation by CCSO Investigators established probable cause to obtain a search warrant for a residence located on County Road 1838. A subsequent search of the residence resulted in the recovery of the Computer Monitor, Postal hand held scanners, numerous Postal Money Orders as well as hundreds of dollars of US Postage Stamps which were stolen from the Post office.”

According to the sheriff’s office, approximately $100 in cash was stolen.

Any building owned or leased by the federal government for its employees to use in the performance of their duties is, under the law, a “federal” facility. U.S. Postal inspectors are participating in the investigation, and have the discretion to bring federal charges as the case unfolds.