If The GNR Search & Rescue Dogs Were Not Tracking MM Who Were They Tracking?

[The General]

It's what makes the case unique imo; two unique sets of circumstances colliding to cause a freak occurrence.

Not for me. In your extensive experience, can you recall any other criminal case with such ludicrous odds?

[Holly Goodhead]

It was a convenient label, nothing more. 'Non-gender' specific, to give it it's neo-liberal, marxist leaning term.

Nothing to do with political correctness but if male the chances are the motive was sexual.  If female the chances are the motive was abducting a child to fill a void through loss or childlessness etc. 

[The General]

Nothing to do with political correctness but if male the chances are the motive was sexual.  If female the chances are the motive was abducting a child to fill a void through loss or childlessness etc.

Again, what's the chances of a bereft female with maternal yearnings bobbing around and stumbling across an opportunity? Then having the brass neck to perpetrate the act, then get away with it so successfully?
Besides, surely she'd be better off hanging around Mothercare?

[Robittybob1]

Do you understand how the tapered snib works Rob?  It is tapered so that it engages in the latch plate the moment it is fully closed rendering it impossible to open from the outside without a key.

A Yale snib lock and this type of latch is different,  There is the rectangular  block behind the tapered snib.  Do both pieces move as one?  If they don't  the rectangular piece stops the door from closing.

But if the deadlatch locking pin is added (that extra half round pin)   that does not extend into the striker plate normally, but in the 5A situation it does.   Therefore the function of "the deadlatch locking pin"  has been altered to prevent the door slamming shut on its own.  Maybe if slammed really hard it will still slam shut as Alphonse tells us.

[Holly Goodhead]

Not for me. In your extensive experience, can you recall any other criminal case with such ludicrous odds?

The high profile cases that the likes of us are drawn to on social media usually involve highly unusual features. 

[The General]

A Yale snib lock and this type of latch is different,  There is the rectangular  block behind the tapered snib.  Do both pieces move as one?  If they don't  the rectangular piece stops the door from closing.

But if the deadlatch locking pin is added (that extra half round pin)   that does not extend into the striker plate normally, but in the 5A situation it does.   Therefore the function of "the deadlatch locking pin"  has been altered to prevent the door slamming shut on its own.  Maybe if slammed really hard it will still slam shut as Alphonse tells us.

Where is the key hole for this lock / latch on the above picture of the front door?

[Holly Goodhead]

Again, what's the chances of a bereft female with maternal yearnings bobbing around and stumbling across an opportunity? Then having the brass neck to perpetrate the act, then get away with it so successfully?
Besides, surely she'd be better off hanging around Mothercare?

How many small children are left hanging around anywhere in the developed world unsupervised by an adult?  If they are then the parents usually face charges of neglect.

[The General]

How many small children are left hanging around anywhere unsupervised by an adult?

With more frequency at Mothercare I would venture, purely by footfall alone.

[Robittybob1]

Hang on, how did she open the front door? Which mechanism? The mortice lock, or a Yale type tapered latch?

https://youtu.be/7pUKiuugYUI?t=45  at 45 seconds stop the video and you can see the hook that has to be pulled to open the door.  It is very easy to do.  No twisting just pull it.

[Holly Goodhead]

With more frequency at Mothercare I would venture, purely by footfall alone.

MM = asleep in an unlocked apartment without any adult around

Children in or around Mothercare = awake with numerous adults around

[Robittybob1]

Where is the key hole for this lock / latch on the above picture of the front door?

The key hole is on the outside of the door, and another one on the rim latch.

This is the best photo of that type of rim latch
You can see where the key needs to be inserted to double lock (deadlock) the door.
And that hooked bit of metal that you need to pull to open and close the door.

[The General]

The key hole is on the outside of the door, and another one on the rim latch.

This is the best photo of that type of rim latch
You can see where the key needs to be inserted to double lock (deadlock) the door.
And that hooked bit of metal that you need to pull to open and close the door.

Excellent. So this is the actual lock type?
So technically, if you use the key, you can close it pretty quietly?
Also, I can't actually see the key hole in the picture - the picture is dark, so how high up is it on the door?

[Angelo222]

The actual lock as fitted to 5a

[Robittybob1]

Excellent. So this is the actual lock type?
So technically, if you use the key, you can close it pretty quietly?
Also, I can't actually see the key hole in the picture - the picture is dark, so how high up is it on the door?

It is just visible at around 150 mm below the door knob.  Going off the photo supplied by Angelo.

[The General]

The actual lock as fitted to 5a

Hang on - totally different lock.