Police are searching for two suspects who may have committed a string of robberies armed with a gun early Sunday in south Minneapolis.

The robbers, described as two men in their 20s, held up seven people in five incidents between 12:30 a.m. and 2:30 a.m. Sunday, said police spokesman Sgt. William Palmer.

They drove up to victims in a car and robbed people after threatening them with a gun, he said, adding that it's unclear whether the robbers threatened victims from inside or outside the car.

Police would not say whether verbal threats were made or whether threats were simply implied by brandishing the handgun.

No one was hurt, Palmer said, but he added, "Any time a gun is involved, we're concerned."

The robbers stole cash, wallets, purses, cell phones and clothing. The robberies occurred all over south Minneapolis, from near Richfield to southeast Minneapolis near the Mississippi River at Franklin Avenue. The areas are mostly residential, Palmer said.

Police would not release more details about the vehicle or men's descriptions because the robbery unit had not yet looked at the cases, he said.

It's too early to say for sure whether the robberies are linked, Palmer said, but police will investigate the possibility. No other robberies in past weeks appear linked to Sunday's cases, he said.

It is fairly uncommon to have several linked robberies in one night, Palmer said.

Safety tips to ward off robbers include going to a public place if you think you're being followed, avoiding dark and isolated areas, and being sure to travel with others, Palmer said. In the event that you are being robbed, the odds of injury decrease if you hand over your belongings without resistance, he added.

Anyone with information is asked to call 612-673-2941.

Chao Xiong • 612-673-4391