PALM BAY, Fla. — Palm Bay police announced they’re stepping up enforcement in The Compound, which is a large area in the western part of Palm Bay that’s seen issues for decades.

During last weekend’s patrols, five arrests were made. Those arrests included charges of traffic violations, a stolen firearm and drug charges.

The move is an effort to keep people away so police resources can be better utilized in the more populated parts of the city.

Palm Bay Deputy Police Chief Jeff Spears grew up in the area. He knows all about the history of The Compound, good and bad.

Now, as an authority, he and his team are ramping up enforcement in a place that over the decades has been plagued with criminal activity, deadly off-road crashes and illegal trash dumping.

“We’ve tried to establish a consistent presence in this area to help alleviate some of those issues,” Spears said.

The Compound is 2,300 acres made up of private property, with several hundred acres owned by the city.

The original concept was a sprawling residential community with 200 miles of roads, but the unfinished development went bankrupt in the 1980s.

On April 23, six brush fires broke out across the area. As firefighters battled the blazes, curious onlookers drove out to see what was going on.

Eventually, officers had to order everyone to leave for their safety.

“When we respond out here to The Compound, it’s taking those resources that could be utilized for other public safety needs," Spears said. "Being in neighborhoods, businesses, parking lots, to prevent crime from happening.”

A city redevelopment action plan proposal for The Compound involves establishing an employment center.

The plan calls for a light industrial center called Port Malabar business park to be built, which would generate an estimated $300 million in direct investment, create 2,500 jobs and bring in $2 million each year in city taxes.

Meantime, Palm Bay Police will continue enforcement efforts.

“We want people to know this is not a recreational area,” Spears said.