What if there was no storm?

In many parts of the country, thunderstorms are common—even predictable some days in advance.

If it was where storms are random, or if a storm hadn't materialized, presumably he wouldn't have smashed his way in, but instead broke it less noisily: perhaps weakening the pipe with grinding and scratching and then breaking the remainder with some sound insulation like towels, blankets, etc. Whatever he did, there is great strategic significance to making noise during instants when it is masked by other noises: showers running, garbage truck activity, sirens going off, riots, etc.

As for the explosion, I always assumed that was due to concentrated sewage methane. Maybe I should look at the other question.