Nicole M. Stefan, 54, of Lake Villa, (inset) is charged in connection with an attempted robbery where a man was battered at Alfredo’s Dog Grooming, 105 South Genesee Street in Waukegan, on January 25. | Background Photo: Google Street View; Inset: Provided

A woman was arrested after she allegedly attempted to rob a dog grooming store in Waukegan while threatening she was armed with a gun and then pushing a person.

Nicole M. Stefan, 54, of Lake Villa, was charged with attempted aggravated robbery, a Class 2 felony, and burglary, a Class 3 felony.

The Waukegan Police Department responded around 9:30 a.m. on January 25 to Alfredo’s Dog Grooming, 105 South Genesee Street in Waukegan, for a report of a robbery.

Lake County Assistant State’s Attorney Mary Vukovich said a 911 caller reported a woman, later identified as Stefan, attempted to rob him.

Officers arrived and learned the suspect walked into the store with her hand in her shirt.

Stefan said she was armed with a gun and demanded “all of the money right now,” Vukovich said.

Vukovich said Stefan then pushed the victim back from the counter in an attempt to steal the cash herself from the register.

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The victim rushed to grab his cell phone and told the suspect she needed to leave or he was going to call the police.

Stefan admitted she did not have a gun and left the store, Vukovich said. She was located across the street by officers.

Stefan told officers that she went into the store to get money and told the victim she had a gun, Vukovich said.

She also said she committed the attempted robbery to get money for drugs.

Vukovich said Stefan is a convicted felon after she was convicted of residential burglary in 2013 and sentenced to three years in prison.

The Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office filed a petition to detain Stefan pending trial, saying she poses a threat to the victim and the community.

A public defender for Stefan said his client had been sober for six years but recently relapsed. He asked the court to release Stefan with pre-trial conditions.

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Lake County Judge Michael Nerheim granted the petition and remanded Stefan to the Lake County Jail.

The judge said he would allow Stefan to be transferred to a rehab facility on a jail detainer if she is accepted into a substance abuse program.

Stefan is scheduled to appear in court again on February 20 for a preliminary hearing.