Issue is, bribe them for what? They don't really have any means to get food either and if they were to look the other way while you slipped out of the community you'd find every shop closed.

They don't take monetary bribes, but favours, cigarettes etc

Another thing is that the Chinese society is still very much likes to "report" things. A few days ago somebody in my community went outside to throw trash, no less than 5 people in the Wechat group posted pictures asking "why N is outside?"