A group of three or four men have been linked to three robberies on or near the Red Line this week in which they have punched victims in the face before running away with their belongings. View Full Caption Flickr/wolfgang1320

DOWNTOWN — A group of men punched victims in the face before robbing them while they were on or near the Red Line on three different occasions, police said Friday.

A group of three or four suspects approached a victim who was riding the Red Line as well as two more who were on sidewalks near Downtown Red Line stations, police said. One suspect distracted the victims with a question before the others attacked, taking victims' cellphones and wallets before running away.

The robberies were reported at:

• 11:20 p.m. March 15 in the 100 block of South State Street

• 1:25 a.m. March 17 in the 100 block of West Adams Street

• 1:49 a.m. March 17 in the 100 block of West Van Buren Street

The suspects were described as 18- to 26-year-old black men of average height and build. One suspect wore a black hooded sweatshirt; one wore a black jacket; and another wore a white bomber jacket.

The CTA said in a statement that they were assisting police to help find the attackers.

"Of the one incident that occurred on CTA property, we are working closely with the Chicago Police Department in its investigation, which would include providing surveillance footage that is relevant to the investigation. Customer safety and security is a top priority for CTA and we routinely work with law enforcement to prosecute criminals," the statement said.

Neither police nor the CTA released surveillance images of the suspects.

Anyone with information on the crimes is asked to call police at (312) 747-8384.