Woman who Threatened to Cut Victim in Robbery Arrested: Police

A 30-year-old Joliet woman who threatened to knife a woman if she didn't give up of her cash was arrested on an aggravated robbery charge early this morning.

Police say Kirsten Welch, of 505 E. Jackson St., and an accomplice who remains at large encountered a woman they both knew from jail near the intersection of Eastern Avenue and Jackson Street at about 4 a.m., Cmdr. Al Roechner said.

Welch allegedly grabbed the woman, told her she had a knife and demanded the victim turn over her cash or she would cut her, Roechner said. The victim complied, giving Welch $49, he said. As the pair left, Welch told the woman that she would also knife her if she called the police.

The victim, a 30-year-old Joliet resident, disregarded the threat and notified police. Welch was a short time later in the area of Cass Street and Parks Avenue and taken into custody, Roechner said.

Police are seeking Welch's companion, who is described as a heavy-set black woman with a pony tail. She was wearing a blue hoodie and blue jeans, Roechner said.

Welch is being held in the Will County jail pending a Wednesday bond hearing on the most recent charge. She's also being held on warrant from a previous criminal trespass charge from August in which the bond is $5,000.

According to Will County circuit court records, Welch has been arrested a dozen times on criminal charges that include drug possession, prostitution and trespass to property. She's also been arrested a half dozen times on city ordinance violations for alcohol possession on public property.