Women arrested on theft, forgery charges

Two women were arrested on charges of forgery and theft in separate incidents, according to court records.

On Thursday, Robin M. Rodriguez, 49, of Joliet, was jailed on charges that she stole more than $1 million from her employer, Tepa Landscaping, according to a criminal complaint.

The owners of Tepa Landscaping, which is located in Joliet, went to the Will County Sheriff’s Office after they suspected Rodriguez, who assisted them with bookkeeping, had been writing unauthorized checks to herself and forged signatures on other checks that were cashed out, county sheriff’s spokeswoman Kathy Hoffmeyer said.

Sheriff’s detectives spent several months investigating bank records and interviewed other people connected to the case before meeting with the Will County State’s Attorney’s Office to approve criminal charges against Rodriguez, Hoffmeyer said.

On Dec. 21, Will County Judge Frederick Harvey signed a warrant for Rodriguez’s arrest that carried a $250,000 bond.

Rodriguez posted 10 percent of her bond and she was released Friday afternoon.

Jennifer C. Puetz, 48, of Plainfield, also was jailed on charges of theft and forgery Thursday.

Puetz, who works as a self-employed day care provider, allegedly stole between $500 and $10,000 in cash from a woman and delivered several altered checks to a bank in the same woman’s name.

Will County Judge Ed Burmila signed a warrant for Puetz’s arrest on Dec. 17 that carried a $75,000 bond. She posted her bond and she was released Friday morning.