A trio of bandits stormed through the Slidell area Thursday morning where they robbed two men and attempted to carjack a third before being arrested two hours later, authorities said.

The alleged thieves, one under age, started the spree at 6:30 a.m. Thursday when one of the trio burst through the doors at the Value Travel Inn near Slidell and allegedly pistol whipped a guest before stealing his cash, watch and a cell phone, Sheriff’s Office Capt. George Bonnett said.

The suspect fled with his two accomplices in a waiting vehicle, he said. An hour and a half later, just before 8 a.m., Slidell Police informed the Sheriff’s Office of an investigation into an attempted carjacking in the Walnut Street/Ben Thomas Road area in Slidell.

“The suspects’ description, the vehicle and the nature of the two incidents were similar, but no positive link was made at that time,” Bonnett said.

Several minutes later, around 8:12 a.m. a third robbery was reported at the McDonald’s restaurant on Brownswitch Road. In that robbery, one of the suspects approached a customer in the parking lot and asked for money for food.

When the victim retrieved his wallet, the suspect grabbed the wallet and ran to a waiting vehicle, Bonnett said.

While investigating the Travel Inn robbery, Sheriff’s Office Sgt. George Cox, Lt. Joe Picone and detectives Lance Vitter, Stacy Callender and Keith Canizaro heard the McDonalds’ robbery crackle through police radios.

Zipping to the scene, they located the vehicle and stopped it.

Joshua Johnson, 24, 27118 Reed Road in Loranger, Leval Butler, 26, 59511 Javery Road, Slidell, and an underage male were taken to the Sheriff’s Office complex in Slidell and questioned.

Two admitted to the crimes, and some of the stolen property was recovered, Bonnett said.

All three were arrested and charged with one count of simple robbery and one count of armed robbery. The underage suspect was booked into the Florida Parishes Juvenile Detention Center.