Authorities believe five young men from Sumter County are responsible for several violent robberies in Tuscaloosa during the last week.

At least five businesses, including an interstate gas station, a convenience store in Cottondale and a Dollar General in Duncanville, have been robbed since Dec. 9.

Police have captured two of the men they believe are responsible and are searching for three more.

Rasheem Keshawn Powell, 19, and Rodarrius Jawan Yates, 21, were both charged with first-degree robbery on Friday. They are suspected of committing crimes in other counties, said  Lt. Teena Richardson, Tuscaloosa Police spokeswoman, and officers had been told to be on the lookout for their vehicle by officials in Lauderdale County, Mississippi. Officers noticed the vehicle on Interstate 20/59 Friday afternoon, pulled them over and arrested them at the Family Dollar store on Greensboro Avenue, Richardson said.

All five suspects are believed to live in Sumter County, she said.

Little information has been released about the robberies. Clerks were assaulted at the Chevron on Buttermilk Road on Dec. 9 and the Circle K on University Boulevard East on Dec. 11, police said.

Court documents indicate that the Dollar General at 11573 U.S. Highway 82 East was robbed just after 9 a.m. Dec. 13.

According to the records, Powell and Yates admitted holding the female clerk at gunpoint before stealing money and cigarettes. Powell admitted to dragging another man across the floor and stealing his wallet, while Yates admitted he was present, according to the court files.

Further information is expected to be released as the investigations conducted by Tuscaloosa Police and the Tuscaloosa County Sheriff's Office continue.