On the 3rd robbery, Cottonwood Heights police were waiting

The third time was not the charm for a trio who were robbing restaurants early Monday in Salt Lake County.

As the masked bandits exited the third restaurant — a Denny's in Cottonwood Heights — police officers with guns drawn were there to capture them.

"What it was, was just good police work," said Cottonwood Heights police Sgt. Mark Askerlund.

Police arrested the suspects about 3 a.m. About 90 minutes earlier, Cottonwood Heights officers began hearing police radio traffic and saw computer alerts about two masked gunmen who robbed a Denny's in South Jordan and a Village Inn in West Jordan.

Suspecting a trend, Cottonwood Heights officers kept surveillance at the Denny's at 7051 S. 1300 East. One officer saw two men arrive, put on masks, draw guns and go inside, Askerlund said.

Askerlund said officers followed protocol and waited for the robbers to exit. Once they did, the officers confronted them at gunpoint.

Askerlund said one of the men ran to a waiting get-away car with a woman driving. The car went only a few hundred yards when an officer in a police cruiser used what's called a "pit maneuver" to hit and spin the suspects' car. The man and woman inside surrendered.

All three suspects were arrested on suspicion of robbery and related offenses.

ncarlisle@sltrib.com

Twitter: @natecarlisle