Legal Definitions - drawlatch

The term drawlatch is a historical legal term referring to a specific type of thief.

A drawlatch was an individual who specialized in stealing from homes that were unoccupied. This thief would observe a residence, wait until its occupants had left, and then gain entry by manipulating or simply opening the door latches to commit theft. The term emphasizes the method of entry—quietly opening a latch rather than forcing a lock or breaking in—and the targeting of empty properties.

Here are some examples to illustrate this concept:

• Imagine a bustling 19th-century town where a known criminal, "Slippery Sam," would spend his afternoons wandering residential streets. Sam wasn't interested in breaking windows or forcing sturdy locks. Instead, he would gently try the latches of front and back doors, hoping to find one that was unlatched or easily manipulated. His goal was to slip inside quickly and grab small, valuable items while the residents were out running errands or visiting neighbors. Sam would be considered a drawlatch because he specifically targeted homes he believed to be empty and gained access by trying or manipulating door latches to steal.

• During the early 20th century, a petty thief named Arthur often observed the daily routines of families in his neighborhood. He noticed that the Davies family left for work precisely at 8:00 AM and didn't return until 5:00 PM. One Tuesday, after confirming their departure, Arthur quietly approached their front door, found the latch unlocked, and entered to steal some silver cutlery. Arthur's actions align with the definition of a drawlatch because he deliberately waited for the home to be empty, then gained entry by opening the door latch (which was unlocked in this instance) to commit theft.