A small business in Penticton was robbed on Wednesday morning, with the thieves hitting the store owner in the arm with a hammer.
The incident at Ogo’s Ice Cream on Main Street was first posted to Facebook, with Penticton RCMP saying later in the afternoon that they are seeking witnesses.
The post says store owner Sharon Brown, 70, was preparing food for the day when the break-in at the rear of Ogo’s occurred.
“It was a normal morning; I came early to do my (food) prep,” Brown told Global News. “I didn’t hear anybody come in, but all of a sudden there were two guys in masks and hoodies behind me, wanting money.”
The popular store is located in the downtown core, across from city hall and beside the courthouse. The store’s backdoor had also been locked and deadbolted.
“I’m screaming and kicking at them,” said Brown. “One guy had a screwdriver and he’s telling me he’s going to (stab) me if I don’t stop screaming. The other guy is waving his hammer and he’s telling me to shut up.”
Brown said she “just kept screaming and I’m kicking and trying to fend them off. And then the one guy with the hammer hit me a couple of times.”
The two hammer strikes hit Brown’s left arm. One blow, near the wrist, needed 11 stitches.
After getting hit twice, Brown said she “just gave in and let them take the till and go.”
The thieves wanted the till opened, and Brown said she couldn’t open it, leading to them ripping it off the counter after unsuccessfully trying to pry it open. The two also pilfered a case of soda.
Asked what was going through her mind, Brown said “disbelief. You see these two people standing there and you think ‘Oh, this is a joke or something.’ All of a sudden, it hits you that it’s serious and these guys mean me harm.”
In eight years of owning the store, Brown said she’s never been broken into before.
“I have young girls working here, and I can’t leave them alone now,” said Brown. “I worry for their safety.”
“Just complete disbelief. Shock that this would happen in broad daylight, in the area of town that she’s in,” distraught daughter Danielle told Global News.
Police and ambulance arrived after Sharon called 911.
Danielle said her mom is a hard-working 70-year-old woman and is really upset when she can’t be there to make food (for the day).
The break-in follows a decision by city council last week to hire two more police officers.
Originally, mayor John Vassilaki requested five new officers but council rebuffed him, fearing soaring costs.
In the end, a compromise was made, though Vassilaki commented “I think we made a mistake, but that’s just my opinion.”
Asked about council’s decision, Danielle said “I don’t think more police would ever be a bad thing. Maybe more patrols. If there are more officers, maybe they can be doing more patrols around the high crime areas.
“More police, more patrols, more people making sure that our businesses and our community are safe.”
Added Sharon: “You can’t be out here all the time, but certainly at this end of town there’s a certain element and we see it all the time. It would be nice if we had more foot patrols down at this end of town.”
Just before 5 p.m., Penticton RCMP released a statement on the incident, noting multiple police officers immediately responded, along with Police Dog Services, following Brown’s 911 call.
“Many local RCMP resources have been assigned to investigate this serious incident,” said RCMP Const. James Grand.
“There was heavy pedestrian traffic at the time and (police) encourage anyone who may have seen, heard, or captured on video anything which may be related, to contact us directly.”
The first male is described as wearing a black mask, a grey hoodie, grey sweat pants and white high-top runners. The second male is described as wearing a black mask and black sweatshirt.
To contact the Penticton RCMP, call 250-492-4300.
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