Minneapolis police are warning University of Minnesota students to be on the alert after a string of violent robberies near the campus over the weekend.

Three separate robberies took place, according to university and Minneapolis police. In each, the victim was assaulted.

• On Friday, a student was walking home about 1:30 a.m. when she noticed a man following her. When she turned to confront him, he hit her in the face and took her wallet. The robbery took place near the intersection of 6th Street SE. and 12th Avenue SE.

• On Saturday, a man was walking home about 1:30 a.m. near the intersection of 19th Avenue S. and Riverside Avenue, when he was approached from behind and assaulted by three suspects. The robbers took the victim's jacket, wallet and keys. Police said the victim may have suffered a broken nose.

• Also on Saturday, a man was walking near 7th Street SE. and 14th Avenue SE. about 9:45 p.m. when he was approached by four men. One asked the victim for a cigarette, then hit him in the face. The first robber continued beating the victim while the other three went through his pockets. They took his wallet and fled. The victim suffered minor injuries.

John Elder, a Minneapolis police spokesman, said robberies often increase during the early part of a new academic year. He warned students and others near the university to be aware of their surroundings.

"We have an area that is truly very target-rich in the opportunity for victims," he said. "So we see a glut of people every year who want to make an easy score."

Elder said the department's Second Precinct is very active in educating the university community about crime prevention and danger, and so are the campus police.

"But there's a whole lot of [criminals] and not very many of us," he said.

John Reinan • 612-673-7402