By CASSANDRA MICKENS / Associate Editor

COLUMBIANA — Three juveniles are charged with burglary and theft in connection to a home break-in in the Vandiver area April 2.

The juveniles, whose identities were not disclosed, are each charged with one count of third degree burglary and one count of first degree theft of property, according to a Shelby County Sheriff’s Office news release.

Deputies responded to a burglary in progress call in the 16000 block of Shelby County 55 in Vandiver at about 10:30 a.m. April 2. The 911 caller, the homeowner’s father, reported that he “walked in on [his] daughter’s home being burglarized.”

The father, whose identity also was not disclosed, claims that three black males fled the scene reportedly armed with a handgun in a vehicle that he described as a white older model Ford Crown Victoria or Mercury. The father said he fired a shotgun at the fleeing vehicle. No injuries were reported.

Deputies later located the suspects’ vehicle and detained the suspects. A warrant was issued to search the vehicle, and sheriff’s investigators recovered property reported stolen from the Vandiver house as well as other property believed to be linked to multiple burglary reports.

Additional charges against the juveniles may be forthcoming and the investigation continues, according to the news release.