Police arrest DMV employee accused of stealing credit cards

A Desert Hot Springs man was released from jail early Friday accused of stealing from people doing business at the California Department of Motor Vehicles office in Palm Desert.

The Riverside County Sheriffs Department said deputies arrested Martin Mendoza, 24, Thursday at the DMV office on the 74700 block of Technology Drive in Palm Desert.

An investigation tied him to transactions with two apparent victims who told police their credit card information had been stolen and cards used right after they’d done business at the DMV. One reported theft happened in January, the other in March.

Sheriffs Department investigators worked with DMV Investigators in identifying Mendoza.

The Desert Hot Springs resident was arrested for theft and credit card fraud then booked at the Riverside County Jail in the city of Indio.

Mendoza was released on $5,000 bail early Friday morning. He was scheduled to appear in court June 20th.

Anyone with information about this incident is urged to call Deputy Aldrich at the Palm Desert Sheriff Station at (760) 836-1600, or they can call anonymously at (760) 341-STOP (7867).