Man Suspected of Robbing Two Cabazon Gas Stations Within Minutes

A man is suspected of holding up two Cabazon gas stations, one right after another, on Monday night and fleeing with cash from both.

According to Riverside County Sheriff's Sgt. James Burton, the first robbery was reported around 6:58 p.m. at the Chevron station, located in the 48300 block of Seminole Drive.  

While deputies were responding to that call, a second robbery was reported about three miles away, at the Valero Gas Station in the 300 block of Fern Street.

"Initial investigation revealed that a Hispanic male adult, wearing a light gray ski mask, brandished a semi-automatic handgun at the cashiers of both locations and demanded money," Burton said.  "The suspect was able to obtain undisclosed amounts of currency from each location."

In both cases, the suspect was seen driving away in a white pickup truck, he said.  It didn't take long for cops to find it.

"Within an hour of the incident, a deputy observed an abandoned white pickup matching the suspect vehicle on northbound Hwy 62, just north of the I-10 off ramp, Whitewater," according to Burton.

The department sent a Bloodhound out on the case, but they didn't have to wait for the canine to pick up a scent, because the suspect came to them.

"While processing the vehicle, a Hispanic male adult, identified as Steven Machado, 34 years old from Indio, arrived as the passenger in a vehicle and advised the deputies that he was the owner of the vehicle," Burton said. 

The man was detained at the scene, and when clerks from both gas stations identified him as the suspected robber, he was arrested, according to the sergeant.

Machado was taken to the Banning jail and booked on robbery charges, according to Burton.

Anyone with information regarding the incident is encouraged to contact the Investigator Thomas at the Cabazon Sheriff’s Station at 951-922-7100 or the Riverside County Sheriff’s Dispatch Center (1-800-950-2444), or email the Cabazon Station at Station at cabazonstation@riversidesheriff.org.