30 July 2010 Last updated at 14:19 ET

Christian shop manager dissuades would-be armed robber

The incident was captured on the shop's CCTV system - video courtesy Broward Sheriff's Office

A 20-year-old Christian mobile phone shop manager in Florida stopped a would-be armed robber by preaching to him about Jesus.

Nayara Goncalves spent nearly five minutes persuading the man that he was doing the wrong thing.

The man eventually apologised, explained his gun was a replica and left the shop in Broward County.

"She was able to remain calm and keep him calm," a sheriff's office spokeswoman said.

During the incident on 23 July, Ms Goncalves told the would-be robber: "I'm just going to talk with you about Jesus."

The man said he was a Christian and was "embarrassed" to be doing what he was doing but that he needed $300 (£190) to avoid being evicted.

The shop manager told him: "I don't know what you're going through, but all of us are going through a hard time right now."

When she explained that she would have to make up any shortfall, he decided to leave.

'Inspired by God'

Ms Goncalves told the BBC she had been inspired by God and that she hoped the man would turn to the church.

"He didn't look that bad. He didn't look like a criminal. It made me a bit more confident about what I wanted to tell him.

"It touched me. I could never be able to think I could to talk or preach to someone with a gun.

"I just felt like hugging him and saying please don't do this."

Veda Coleman-Wright, of Broward County sheriff's office, said she had never seen anything like it in her 14 years on the job.

The man is being sought for attempted armed robbery, she added.