In my post #38, where I said "would not have occasioned just a little bit of checking out", meant "would not have occasioned just a little bit of checking out by every police and government security office in the area", as distinct from checking out by common people.
Even then, a full-acre walled compound near my neighborhood would definitely be a topic of discussion in the neighborhood, with kids and teens having a lively interest in WTF is in there.
I think that there were many officials who were paid to not be curious.