Robberies at hotels in Minnetonka and Bloomington this morning could be the work of the same group of men, police said.

Three men robbed the Hampton Inn in the 10000 block of Wayzata Blvd. at about 4:20 a.m., said Minnetonka Police Chief Joy Rikala.

One man wearing hooded jacket came to the locked door of the Inn and was buzzed in by the clerk, Rikala said. Two other men quickly followed him through the door. One of the men pointed a small pistol at the clerk and the men demanded money. They fled with a small amount of cash, Rikala said. The clerk didn't see the vehicle.

"We did a canine search but got nothing fruitful at that time," Rikala said.

The suspects are three black men between 18 to 25 years old and about 6 feet tall. All were wearing dark jackets, dark pants, ski masks and gloves. One of the suspects had a fur-lined hood.

Minnetonka police put out a call requesting information about similar robberies and got a response from Bloomington police who said three men had robbed a Comfort Inn at about 5:40 a.m.

"Our investigators are getting together with theirs to see of we can get something," Rikala said.

The Bloomington robbery appears to follow the same pattern, said Commander Kevin Hinrichs. Three men came into the Comfort Inn in the 1300 block of E. 78th Street and confronted the desk clerk. One of the men pulled a handgun and they forced the clerk to the floor while they took money from the cash drawer and fled.

The clerk had minor injuries, Hinrichs said.

"At first blush, based on information we had from Minnetonka this morning, it appears that the suspect descriptions are similar," said Hinrichs. "Can I say with certitude they were the same men? No. Does it appear that they are. Yeah."

Investigators were still at the scene late this morning and no other details were available, he said.

Rikala said it would have taken the robbers only 20 to 25 minutes to get from the Minnetonka motel, which is near Interstate Hwy. 394, to the Bloomington motel, which is near I-494.

Lisa Boushele, general manager of the Hampton Inn, said the hotel keeps its doors locked through the night and only opens them to guests. The clerk apparently assumed that the the suspect was a guest, she said.

She said she couldn't comment on the robbery because it is under investigation.

"Our main concern is the safety of the staff and the guests," she said. "It is very tragic that it had to occur and that someone has to be in fear of coming to work."

Comfort Inn officials could not be reached.