Woman: Prayer scared off would-be robber

MESA, Ariz., Oct. 9 (UPI) -- A woman told police an attempted carjacker in the parking lot of a Mesa, Ariz., church backed off after she refused his demands and began praying.

The police report of the incident quotes the woman as saying a man approached her car in the parking lot of St. Timothy Catholic Community at about 1 p.m. and flashed an air pistol, The Arizona Republic reported Wednesday.

She said the man threatened her and demanded she surrender her car. However, the woman said the man fled after she began to pray in front of him.

Police said the woman identified James Jett, 24, as the suspect and he allegedly admitted to the attempted carjacking. He was charged with one count of attempted armed robbery.