SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- In just over an hour Sunday, two masked men robbed three college students at gunpoint in three locations near the Syracuse University campus, police said.

Two SU students and a third student who attends the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry (SUNY ESF) reported the robberies, which police say were committed by the same suspects.

SU's Department of Public Safety sent three emails to students, staff and community members Sunday night after the robberies. In the emails, DPS encouraged everyone to stay away from Ostrom and Roosevelt avenues, as well as Buckingham Avenue and Meadowbrook Drive, where the robberies occurred.

Here is what Syracuse police and DPS say happened Sunday night:

Around 7:20 p.m., two masked men approached an SU student in the 100 block of Ostrom Avenue and stole his wallet, along with items inside -- including a small amount of cash. One of the suspects brandished a silver handgun during the robbery, but no one was hurt.

At 8:18 p.m., police were called to the 300 block of Roosevelt Avenue, where two men tried to rob an ESF student. Nothing was stolen and no one was hurt during the attempted robbery.

Then, around 8:25 p.m., another SU student was robbed. The suspects stole the student's iPhone. Syracuse police said the third robbery happened in the 400 block of Buckingham Avenue, although DPS reported the robbery happened in the 300 block of Meadowbrook Drive. No injuries were reported.

The suspects were last seen driving away on Meadowbrook Drive in a silver or gray SUV, police said.

"If you were in the vicinity at the time of these incidents, the Department of Public Safety (DPS) asks for your help in identifying the suspects," DPS wrote in an email.

Syracuse police also are asking the public for help in identifying the robbery suspects.

One suspect is described as a black man, about 20 to 30 years old; roughly 6 feet, 3 inches; with a large build, wearing brown hooded sweatshirt, pants and a ski mask, city police said. In its description, DPS added that the heavy-set man had longer hair, and was last seen wearing a red or brown colored jacket, brown cargo pants, dark colored ski mask and was carrying a silver handgun.



Syracuse police described the second suspect as a black man; 20 to 30 years old; 5 feet, 10 inches tall; with a thin build; and wearing a gray hooded sweatshirt and jeans. The DPS email described this suspect as wearing all dark colored clothing and having a medium build.



Syracuse police ask anyone with information about the robberies to call its Criminal Investigations Division at (315) 442-5222 or submit a tip using the "SPD Tips" app.

Syracuse University's Department of Public Safety also asked anyone with information to call DPS at (315) 443-2224 or submit a tip through its "Silent Witness" tool.

SU's DPS also shared safety strategies in an email that encouraged the community to walk in groups of three or more, especially after dark; to never walk alone; and report anything that doesn't look or feel right.