Hatch not latched kills battery --- how can I prevent?

By design, I have a lot of stuff near my rear hatch and sometimes I don't seem to get the hatch fully closed. It's latched, won't open, looks closed, but its not -- and the dash "door open" indicator confirms that its not fully latched.

Over the years, I have run the battery down to the point where the car won't start several times this way -- hatch is latched, won't open, and looks/feels closed, but isn't fully closed. In fact, its the only way I've ever run the battery down.

I try to be extremely careful and vigilant about getting a good solid close, but apparently one out of a thousand times I don't. Usually at the worst possible moment, of course.

My interior lights are set so that they do not go on when the doors/hatch are open. With the hatch open, the car is as dark as it is when the hatch is closed. There is no outward indication of any power drain when the hatch is open -- but of course, there is.

Two questions:

First, what is "on" with the hatch open that puts a load on the battery?

Second -- the $25,000 question -- is there a "work around" so that the car always "thinks" that the hatch is closed, even when its ajar a bit, and thus doesn't put a load the battery. Disconnect some wire, bridge some wire connection, something/anything so that the hatch still works, but the car always thinks its closed and thus doesn't run down the battery.

PLEASE: No replies saying just make sure its shut, check the dash for the "door open" indicator, don't be so stupid, or stuff like that. Looking for a possible work-around. I already know I'm stupid for this happening multiple times!!

 

Any idea where that is and characteristics? I understand the downsides you mention and happily accept them.