Schonne Homes, Betts Electric Ltd and LockWorks Inc. teamed up to reinforce the security at Ogo's Ice Cream, free of charge, after the store was violently robbed on Wednesday morning

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A trio of local businesses have beefed up security at a downtown ice cream parlour after the elderly owner was violently robbed Wednesday morning.

The rear entrance to Ogo’s Ice Cream has been reinforced with a security plate, a peep hole has been installed, as well as a surveillance system with three new cameras. All of these came at no cost, thanks to the owners of Schoenne Homes, Betts Electric Ltd and LockWorks Inc.

They chose to donate their time and supplies after hearing about the brazen attack at the ice cream shop Wednesday morning. The owner of Ogo’s was doing prep work alone when two masked men entered the store and demanded cash, striking the woman with a hammer and stealing the register.

“It was just so aggravating to hear what happened,” Chris Shoenne said. “This just takes it to the next step. It’s one thing to break in and steal something but it takes it to a whole new level when somebody defenceless like that gets attacked.”

“We heard it on the news and I was appalled,” Dale Fleming of LockWorks said. “Not something you’d expect in Penticton – or hopefully anywhere – but it really shocked me that something like that could happen here. Especially a senior businesswoman.”

LockWorks was asked by Shoenne if he could offer any help and Fleming had a quick answer.

“We're definitely on board, we will do whatever it takes,” Fleming said.

LockWorks senior technician George Goodman was sent down right away to install a metal blocker plate onto the steel door.

“Unfortunately the burglars attacked the latch on the doorknob and it was totally vulnerable,” Fleming said, adding that the new full length metal blocker plate won’t let that happen again.

Those metal blocker plates “have become very common in Penticton over the last few years,” he said.

And if any unwanted people do make their way into Ogo’s again, there will be clear surveillance footage of them, thanks to Cam Betts and of Betts Electrical Ltd.

“That was such a terrible thing that happened but I felt fortunate to be able to help out, being in the security business. With Ogo’s currently not having a system we were happy to help out."

Cameras are now keeping an eye on the store’s front door, back door and front counter.

“Just the visibility of cameras and signage warning about cameras goes a long way,” he said.

Ogo’s also has a new security system that can be armed and disarmed remotely.

The owners of two other local ice cream parlours, Tickleberries and Lickity Splitz, have also decided to support Ogo's.

"We were outraged as business owners and saddened as community members to hear of this brazen robbery and attack," reads a post on the Tickleberry's Facebook page. "Ice cream is near and dear to our hearts as it is to hers and as such we are donating all the proceeds from our collective waffle cone sales to Sharon during her closure. The Penticton small business community is strong and we will not let a cowardly attack ruin what is the height of the ice cream selling season for Sharon."

Penticton RCMP are still searching for the two suspects involved in Wednesday's robbery.

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