Venice police have arrested a third suspect in the armed home invasion that happened September 23 on Laurel Road East. Frankie Bartolo Mercado Jr., 43, was taken into custody Tuesday in Cape Coral. Investigators say Mercado played a very specific role: he was the inside man. According to police, a past business relationship with the victim gave him knowledge about the home and its safes, and he used that to help plan the robbery. He’s also accused of supplying equipment and driving the break-in crew to the scene.
The night of the invasion, police say Justin Mitchell and Brevaun Williams forced their way into the home, tied up the homeowner, and stole a handgun. When a relative rushed in, one shot was fired. The relative was not struck. A Venice police K-9 named Palmer later tracked down the stolen firearm, and Mitchell and Williams were arrested that same night. Mercado now faces several felony charges in connection with the case.
For folks across Venice and the surrounding Suncoast neighborhoods, the inside-man detail is the one worth remembering. Most home security advice focuses on strangers, but this case shows how a business relationship from years ago can become a blueprint for a crime. It’s worth asking yourself who really knows your layout, your routine, and where you keep your valuables. So, what steps do you take to protect your home, and would you change anything after reading this? Let us know in the comments.
