Robbers have been targeting Latinos in a large section of Minneapolis in recent weeks, with nearly all of the victims being male and alone at the time, according to police.

At least 17 Latinos have been robbed since Oct. 1 in an area bound by Interstate 35W on the west, I-94 on the north, the Mississippi River on the east and 62nd Street on the south, police said.

Only one case involved more than one victim, and 16 of those robbed have been male, according to a crime alert issued in the Third Precinct in both English and Spanish.

"Over half occurred near the victims' residence when they were either leaving or coming home," the alert read.

In more than half, the perpetrators were armed, and victims were injured in two cases when they resisted or fought back, the alert said. Descriptions of the robbers have lacked specificity, police said.

Police said they are ramping up the frequency of patrols and taking other enforcement actions in the area.

PAUL WALSH