06:09 PM CST on Wednesday, March 23, 2005

By Wendell Edwards / 11 News

Some streetlights in a Houston-area community frighten by driveway robberies are expected to go out in the coming days. Parts of the Mission Bend subdivision that straddles the Harris and Fort Bend County line will go dark, and residents are afraid that criminals could be lurking in the shadows.

At least twice a day, Shardae Glover walks a path in west Harris County near the intersection of Hwy 6 and Bellaire Blvd. And she is not alone.

"People walk back and forth everyday," Glover said. "All of my relatives walk back and forth. Some of them are young to be walking back and forth with no lights on the streets."

The streetlights are there, but residents in the area have learned about 100 lights in will soon be turned off.

"When the light comes on it kills the darkness and we need to be safe," said Beverly Johnson.

It's a scary thought for neighbors living in Mission Bend, an area plagued in the past year with at least 70 driveway robberies and home invasions.

"And at night it's dark and when the street lights go out it's going to make a major impact on our neighborhood," said Bill Cork.

Bill Cork got one of the 1,200 notices sent to residents and local businesses.

Reliant Energy said an outstanding $47,000 bill is reason behind the disconnection. For years the Mission Bend Commercial Maintenance Association had paid the bill.

The association consisted of commercial businesses in this area, but it is now defunct and Reliant Energy said no one has paid on the bill since May of last year.

"I think what we would like people in the area to realize this is absolutely a last resort for us," said Pat Hammond, Reliant Energy. No one at Reliant wants to take this step, however after a year without payment we can't continue to provide the service."