Man Told Victim He Thought She ‘Wanted Company’ During Break-In: FL Sheriff

VENICE, FL — A man who told a woman that she thought she “wanted company” after being caught breaking into her Venice home last month was recently arrested, the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office said.

Justin Cochara, 39, was arrested Tuesday and charged with attempted burglary of an occupied dwelling.

When deputies began investigating the Nov. 19 incident, a video showed Cochara parking in the victim’s driveway, the sheriff’s office said.

He then opened the front door of the residence, while wearing blue latex gloves and carrying a backpack.

Cochara told the victim he thought she “wanted company,” SCSO said. The victim immediately told him to leave and called the sheriff’s office.

When he was taken into custody on Tuesday, he was wearing blue latex gloves.

The investigation was a collaboration between the SCSO and the North Port Police Department and the Sarasota Police Department.

Anyone with information about Cochara is asked to contact Detective Pelfrey with the SCSO Criminal Investigations Section at 941-861-4900 or Crime Stoppers at 941-366-8477 or sarasotacrimestoppers.com.