What is the latch and why is it a weak point?

The latch is the angled bolt that slips into the frame on its own when you push the door shut. It is a weak point because, if you do not lock with the key, it is the only thing holding the door.

Its angled shape is exactly what lets you shut the door without a key, and also what makes it vulnerable: from outside it can be pushed back, without touching the cylinder and leaving hardly any marks.

How to protect yourself:

• Always lock with the key when you go out, even for a moment, and at night.
• Fit an anti-slip latch, which cannot be pushed back from outside.
• Check that the latch goes fully into the strike plate.

In houses left empty for spells, just pulling the door shut is a risk. We look at it in lock installation.