Three MSU students were tied up at gunpoint while thieves ransacked their apartment near campus early Tuesday, police said.

The attack follows two separate incidents on Sunday night in East Lansing, where female students were approached by gunmen demanding they hand over their belongings.

East Lansing police don't believe there is a connection between Sunday's robberies and Tuesday's intrusion, which occurred at about 5:30 a.m. at the victims' first floor residence of Americana Apartments, 1128 Victor St.

Based on an initial investigation, police Capt. Juli Liebler said the attackers in Tuesday's incident appeared to be looking for narcotics, while the Sunday robberies were random.

None of the victims in any of the robberies were injured. Police would not reveal what items were stolen from the apartment.

"Obviously we are concerned any time we have that type of violent crime," Liebler said.

East Lansing police also arrested two individuals late Tuesday who were apparently breaking into cars in city neighborhoods.

East Lansing police Sgt. Nancy Hamilton said police were investigating whether there was a relationship with the Sunday night robberies.

The Americana residents in Tuesday's assault, identified as a 22-year-old man, a 21-year-old man and a 20-year-old woman, told police they didn't know the identity of their assailants.

The victims, who declined comment, provided a description of the attackers to police.

They said one attacker is a 6-foot-tall black man who was wearing all black clothing. A second attacker was a black male, about 5-8, with a heavy build who was wearing a baseball cap. The third suspect is a 6-foot white man with dark hair and freckles on his face, they said.

Neighbors such as Ted Sieving, a 2003 graduate, said the victims are considering moving from the complex in light of the robbery.

"I thought I heard a noise," said Sieving, who was awake into the morning on Tuesday. "I heard some people but didn't figure it was anything. There is always noises outside.

"I figured it was a drunk kid trying to get into his apartment."

Physiology and pre-med sophomore Nick Bubela, who lives near the victims, was surprised that the attack occurred near him.

"We're going to be sure to lock everything up," Bubela said, adding that he's noticed people fighting in the complex recently.

The two robberies on Sunday occurred within 2 miles and 20 minutes of each other and descriptions of the assailants were similar, causing police to believe there was a relationship between the cases.

In the first case, a 23-year-old student was robbed at gunpoint at 11:18 p.m. Sunday while walking her dog outside Homestead Apartments, 426 W. Lake Lansing Road.

At 11:35 p.m. Sunday, a 20-year-old student told police she was approached at gunpoint by a man outside a sorority house on the 300 block of North Harrison Avenue.

In response to Sunday's robberies, sororities are reminding members to be careful and reinforcing their "buddy systems" to help keep people safe, said Amy Radford, assistant director of greek affairs for Student Life.

"We are just trying to reiterate things like not walking alone," Radford said. "The women in the community, with the sororities and fraternities in that area, need to keep an eye out."

Liebler said it is important for students and members of the community to stay alert and aware of their surroundings.

She reminded residents, too, that crimes like these are rare occurrences in East Lansing and often not committed by city residents.

"Anybody can come and go in this community at any time," she said. "There isn't a gate at the entrance."

Anyone with information is asked to call East Lansing police at (517) 337-2599.

Steve Eder can be reached at ederstev@msu.edu.

Don Jordan can be reached at jordand3@msu.edu.