Dumbarton Middle School and Towson High School students were approached by a robber threatening them with a gun for their cell phones, and police say to expect increased patrols in the area in response.

At 2:30 p.m. on Thursday, a robber attempted to grab a cell phone from a Towson High School student walking home from school in the 600 block of Dunkirk Road, police said. There was a struggle and the robber pointed a gun at the student, Batton said

The robber grabbed the phone and fled westbound on Dunkirk Road, police said. The incident was reported at 4 p.m.

Shortly afterward, at 3:13 p.m., three Dumbarton Middle School students were walking home in the 700 block of Regester Avenue when a male stopped them and asked for directions, said Cpl. Cathleen Batton, a police spokeswoman. He then told the students that he would shoot them if a cell phone was not given to him. The three ran away from the scene without handing anything over.

"We're looking at the possibility that [the two incidents are] connected," Batton said.

In both cases, the robber was described as a 6 foot tall male between 17 and 18 years old with a thin build and short hair.

Batton said officers are increasing their patrols of the area, and encourage residents to suspicious activity to the police. 

Editor's Note: Due to wrong information provided by the Baltimore County Police Department, the school one of the students attended was incorrectly identified in an earlier version of this report.