Abstract: A guard grille for a window, door, or the like, has a retainer member which is fixedly attached thereto and which is adapted to releasably engage a latching mechanism which is retained on the wall adjacent to a window frame. The latching mechanism includes an inner latching member which is attached to a slidably mounted rod and an outer retainer collet which in the latched position retains the latching member within the retainer member. A spring is placed between the inner latching member and the retainer member, this spring being compressed when the mechanism is in the latched condition. The mechanism is unlatched by means of a knob located adjacent to the inner wall surrounding the window frame, this knob being attached to the rod connected to the inner latching member. Inward actuation of the knob moves the inner latching member away from the retainer collet against the spring, thereby releasing the latching mechanism, the spring and actuation by the operator driving the grille away from the window.