Brightwater initiated a Neighborhood Watch Program in 2009 and, working closely with the Missouri City Police Department, the program has been successful in monitoring the subdivision and maintaining an active volunteer membership.

All Brightwater residents are encouraged to participate;  several times during the year, training sessions are held for new members. 

• Patrolling of the neighborhood is done in teams of two.  Volunteers can pick a partner of their choice (a neighbor or family member) or from the general roster.  Every patrol member must be officially signed up.

• Volunteers must be 18 years or older and residents of Brightwater.

• Two hours a month on a given day have to be committed by each volunteer.  For example, you can sign up for duty between 11am - 1pm on every first Monday of the month and that will be your official time slot. Duties involve driving around the neighborhood during those hours with your partner and watching for any suspicious or unusual activity.  Patrol duties cannot be broken up into separate 30 or 60 minute slots.

• No direct intervention is required from volunteers. In case you detect a crime or violation of city ordinances, you will call the police on your cell phone.

• At least 15 teams are required for an effective Neighborhood Watch for a subdivision the size of Brightwater. That means we maintain a minimum of thirty (30) volunteers.

• When we have the new volunteers, a training session with Officer Dan Flagg of Missouri City Police will be set up.  Officer Flagg will explain in more detail the do's and don'ts of a Neighborhood Watch program. A booklet with the summary of the Missouri City ordinances will be issued to each volunteer and that will serve as the guideline for crime watch.

The HOA provides magnetic decals for crime watch volunteers to attach to their vehicles while patrolling.

Brightwater already employs off duty police officers for patrolling our neighborhood during the evening hours. A Neighborhood Watch is therefore needed during the daytime between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. This will, of course, preclude most residents who work during the day. But those who have free time during these hours are encouraged to give two hours a month for the initiative.

To volunteer, please send your name and contact information to:
Diane Giltner at 281-499-0695 or dgiltner5@comcast.net 

Help Prevent Vehicle Burglaries:

• Keep vehicles locked at all times.
• When parked overnight, remove all valuables from vehicles.
• Try not to park on the street overnight. 
• When shopping, make one trip to the car with purchased merchandise, and then leave the lot. Thieves have been known to watch shoppers as they place merchandise in their cars before returning to a store.
• Never leave identification, wallets, credit cards or jewelry in vehicles while visiting fitness centers. Doing so is much riskier than using a locker inside the gym or leaving the items at home.
• If personal property must be left in a car, lock it in the trunk. Unfortunately, this option does not exist for pick-up trucks or SUVs. Thieves are aware that there is no secure place to store items in
  these types of vehicles.
  

 Be especially alert at shopping centers and fitness clubs.