Police in Melbourne advise Indian students not to talk loudly in their own language or  display expensive items like MP3 players, in the hope of curbing robberies in the city's west.

Last financial year, robberies in the west jumped by 27 per cent, with police estimating that one-third of the victims were of Indian descent, The Age newspaper reported on Thursday.

A special investigative group has been established amid fears Indian international students are seen as soft targets because they carry computers and MP3 players on trains late at night, The Age said.

Inspector Scott Mahony of Brimbank police said the students should take basic precautions.

Race 'may be factor'

"They need to make sure they walk through a well-lit route, even if it might be longer, and they are not openly displaying signs of wealth with iPods and phones, and not talking loudly in their native language," he said.

"We do believe there are some where the victim is targeted because of Indian appearance."

The Federation of Indian Students of Australia has warned Melbourne may be seen as an unsafe destination for Indian students.

But Federation president Raman Vaid said most students, not just Indians, carried valuables on public transport.

"It's not being told to other communities or other students, 'Don't speak loudly in your native tongue, don't carry laptops'," he said.