Click the play button on the video window to the right to see the storyPHOENIX -- For Elder Beau Hatcher and Elder Brady Parkin, two missionaries who work with the Mormon church near 41st Avenue and Baseline Road in Phoenix, having four wheels to get around --- instead of two -- is kind of nice.
"Normally they see us riding bikes, going and knocking on doors ... in the hot and everything, but we have a nice car because we cover a bigger area," said Hatcher.
But Sunday morning, the nice car -- a 2009 Chevy Malibu -- became the target of vandalism when thieves tried to break through their passenger window while the two young men were inside the church building.
"No matter what mode of transportation we have," said Hatcher, "it seems like things happen anyways."
"We saw the damage on the car, and we were like, 'Oh! Thank goodness they didn't get into the car,'" Parkin said, explaining how he believes the vandals struck the window five times without penetrating the glass.
"At the same time, it still kinds of worries you," he said.
"Nobody can break the Lord's Malibu," said Hatcher. "The vehicle is actually owned by the church, and so, I always say, 'no one can break the Lord's Malibu.' He tried to get through, but I guess ... if you want to buy a vehicle with good windows, buy a Chevy Malibu."
Phoenix police confirmed taking three police reports at that church Sunday, including two other vehicles that had shattered windows.
Church members said one of the vehicles that was struck belonged to the church Bishop.
Phoenix police said they took at least one other report in the area at the Safeway near 50th Avenue and Baseline Road.
They could not say whether there were any other reports of vandalism or attempted thefts in that area.
Parkin and Hatcher said they didn't notice anything missing from their vehicles, but police indicated they did take at least one report of missing items.
Parkin said he's not sure what the vandals were trying to accomplish by attempting to break into the vehicle, but he said would like to think they were going for the religious literature.
"We hope that they want the religious material cause that's what we do as missionaries," he said smiling.
