The fire escape trick I learned at a bar in Portland saved my apartment

Two weeks ago I was at a friend's place in Portland and their cat got stuck on the fire escape, of all things. The super came up and used a butter knife to pop the window latch from outside, which I didn't even know was possible. That same week my own window lock jammed and I almost had to call a locksmith for a $200 fee. Turns out most uPVC windows can be opened from outside with a thin blade if the lock is the basic hook type. It freaked me out because anyone could get in, so I checked all my windows and two were that easy to pop. Has anyone else tested this or found a simple way to secure those latches without replacing the whole window?

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kais676d ago

Wait, you really had no idea that was a common trick? Every landlord special window in this city pops open with a butter knife, I discovered that when I locked myself out like three years ago. The scary part is most people never check until it's too late, so good on you for actually testing yours. For a quick fix, just drill a small hole through the latch plate and drop a pin or screw in there, that jams the hook so it can't slide back. Or just add a cheap secondary latch at the top corner, costs like five bucks and takes ten minutes. But honestly, the real fix is swapping those hook latches for a proper keyed lock if your frame allows it, worth the hundred bucks for peace of mind.