I did a little experiment last night. The lights were out last night, not an uncommon thing here, so common, that we keep lanterns set out within easy access, but, last night, I decided to do the experiment. I left the lanterns off, in the house, and didn't use any artificial light, outdoors, so when we came back in, my eyes would be adjusted to the dark, and I'd be in a dark home. I've been here for YEARS, and I still made some noise getting around (which, of course, was amplified because the electric was off).
My dogs, who obviously know me, and I've had since pups, heard me opening the door, went plumb off, and, ran barking like maniacs, down the hall, only to find it was me. They stopped, and sheepishly wagged their tails, like, Oh, it's just you, sorry, we were sure it was a serial killer.
At least one of the assailants was probably somewhat familiar with the homes, even then, they'd need a pen light, or, quite possibly, a firearm with a tactical light, then they just spanned out, hit the room lights, and killed them before most had time to come fully awake. They'd have chanced hitting those babies otherwise, I would think. I've always thought that there were two going into each site, and a driver. I think the driver was probably in a truck, it's easy in, easy out, of a truck bed, lie down in the bed and no one sees you, and the wash down would be much simpler than car upholstery. The dogs, may have done like mine, barked momentarily, then recognized someone as familiar to the home, or, they didn't even have time to recognize them. The two dogs, at CR1's, were put outside not because they were a threat, but because they were in the way.
