Man arrested after 2 gas stations robbed in Cabazon

An Indio man was arrested after being accused of robbing two gas stations in Cabazon.

According to the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department, Steven Machado, 34, is suspected of holding up cashiers with a semi automatic handgun.

Deputies with the Cabazon Station were called to the Chevron gas station in the 48300 block of Seminole Drive on Monday around 7 p.m. While investigating that incident, a second robbery was reported at the Valero gas station in the 300 block of Fern Drive.

Officials said the suspect got away with cash from both gas stations. Witnesses said he was wearing a light-gray ski mask and drove off in a white pickup truck.

Within an hour of the robberies, a deputy spotted an abandoned white pickup truck that matched the suspect’s vehicle on northbound Highway 62, just north of the I-10 off ramp. Using Bloodhounds, deputies searched the area but didn’t find anyone.

When they were processing the pickup truck, they said Machado pulled up as a passenger in another vehicle and said he was the owner of the abandoned truck.

After investigating, deputies arrested Machado and he was booked at the Larry D. Smith Correctional Facility in Banning on two counts of robbery.

Anyone with information about the robberies is asked to call Investigator Thomas with the Cabazon Sheriff’s Station at 951-922-7100. You can also call the Riverside County Sheriff’s Dispatch Center at 1-800-950-2444.