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Crenshaw Lock

Lock Rekeying in Altadena · 24/7 mobile

Lock Rekeying in Altadena, California

Crenshaw Lock Company provides fully mobile lock rekeying in Altadena, California, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. We change your cylinders so old keys no longer work, without replacing the hardware. Call (323) 997-8867 to talk through your doors and schedule a visit.

  • Mobile to your Altadena location
  • Available 24/7
  • Price quoted before we start
Call (323) 997-8867or tap to call — we answer 24/7
Lock cylinder opened for rekeying with pins and springs on a workbench
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Rekeying is the practical answer when you want to know exactly who holds a working key to your home. We reconfigure the pins inside your existing lock cylinders so a new key operates them and every previous key becomes useless. The deadbolt, the handle and the finish all stay put. For a family that just bought in Altadena, a landlord turning over a unit, or anyone who has lost a key ring, it is usually the sensible first step.

Altadena is in an unusual moment. The January 2025 Eaton Fire destroyed thousands of homes, and many of the properties we are asked about now fall into three groups: surviving houses whose hardware took heat, smoke and ash, rebuilds that need brand-new locksets keyed correctly, and recently purchased lots where a rebuilding family wants a clean slate on every key. Each of these calls for a slightly different approach, and we plan accordingly.

We have served Greater Los Angeles and Ventura County since 1987, and we are completely mobile. There is no shop to visit. David Shar and our technicians bring the tools and key blanks to your door, whether that is a Craftsman bungalow, a mid-century home or a construction site with a temporary gate.

How it works in Altadena

  1. 1

    Tell us about the doors

    When you call (323) 997-8867, we ask how many locks need attention, what brands they are, and why you want them rekeyed. A move, a sale, a lost key and a contractor handoff each shape the plan. If the hardware was exposed to fire or heavy ash, tell us so we can bring the right tools.

  2. 2

    Inspect each cylinder

    On site, we check every lock before taking it apart. Some cylinders are in good shape and rekey easily. Others, especially ones fouled by soot or ash, may be stiff, gritty or seized. We tell you what we find before we proceed, so you are never surprised.

  3. 3

    Free up fouled hardware if needed

    Smoke residue and ash can gum up pins and springs. When a surviving home's deadbolt is sticky, we clean and work it free where that is reasonable. If a lock is too damaged to trust, we explain why replacing it is the better route.

  4. 4

    Rekey to a new key pattern

    We remove the cylinder, swap in new pins matched to a fresh key, and reassemble. Every old key, including copies you never knew existed, stops working. We can key several locks alike so one key fits the front door, back door and side gate.

  5. 5

    Test everything

    We operate each lock with the new key several times, check that the bolt throws fully and the latch lines up with the strike, and confirm the old key no longer turns. You get your new keys in hand before we leave.

  6. 6

    Plan for the future

    If you want extra copies, a simple master-key arrangement for a rebuild, or a lockbox setup for contractors, we can discuss it then. Larger lots with gates and side-yard locks can be added to the same keying so you carry fewer keys.

Need lock rekeying in Altadena?

24/7 Mobile Locksmith across Greater Los Angeles & Ventura County. We answer 24/7.

Call (323) 997-8867

What affects the price

  • The number of cylinders being rekeyed. A single front door is a smaller job than a whole house with gates and outbuildings.
  • The condition of the hardware. Clean, working cylinders go quickly, while soot-fouled or seized ones need extra labor or may call for replacement.
  • Whether you want all locks keyed alike or a master-key system with separate keys for different people or trades, which takes more planning.
  • The lock brands and types involved, since some high-security cylinders and specialty keyways need particular parts and tools.
  • How many extra keys you want cut beyond the standard set.
  • The time of day and the distance to your property, since we operate around the clock and travel to you.

Why Altadena chooses us

  • Fully mobile service. Everything happens at your door, with no shop trip and no leaving your property unsecured while you wait.
  • Experience since 1987 working on the older Craftsman and Spanish Colonial hardware common in Altadena, not just modern builder-grade sets.
  • Honest assessment of fire-exposed locks. We tell you when cleaning and rekeying makes sense and when replacement is the safer call.
  • Comfortable with rebuild work, including new locksets, simple master-key systems and contractor lockbox setups for jobsite security.
  • Available 24/7, so a lost key or an urgent post-purchase change does not have to wait for business hours.
  • Owner-led. David Shar stands behind the work, and you get plain explanations rather than a sales pitch.

Lock Rekeying across Altadena

Altadena's housing tells a story in its locks. Janes Village is full of 1910s to 1940s bungalows with original or long-ago replaced deadbolts, and many of those houses survived the Eaton Fire with hardware that has been through smoke, heat and months of ash. Cylinders there can stick or seize, and a careful clean-and-rekey often brings them back. Homes in ZIP 91001 and ZIP 91003 vary widely, from small tract bungalows to larger hillside lots.

Near Christmas Tree Lane on Santa Rosa Avenue, around the Altadena Country Club, and in The Meadows, we see families who have bought a property and want every key reset before they move in or rebuild. Bigger lots often come with gates, side-yard doors and sheds, and we can fold those into the same key so you are not juggling a ring of strangers' keys.

We work throughout the area, from Lake Ave, Lincoln Ave and Fair Oaks Ave to Altadena Dr and Woodbury Rd, and up toward the Cobb Estate and Sam Merrill Trailhead. Whether you live near Charles White Park, Farnsworth Park or the old Mount Lowe Railway site, one call to (323) 997-8867 brings the work to you. For rebuilds, we can also key new locksets and set contractor lockboxes to protect the jobsite.

Locked out or need a locksmith now?

24/7 Mobile Locksmith across Greater Los Angeles & Ventura County. We answer 24/7.

Call (323) 997-8867

Other Altadena locksmith services

See all of our Altadena services, or our citywide lock rekeying page.

Lock Rekeying in Altadena — FAQs

What is the difference between rekeying and changing locks?
Rekeying changes the internal pins of your existing cylinder so a new key works and old keys do not. Replacing swaps the whole lock. Rekeying is usually the lighter option when your hardware is still sound. Call (323) 997-8867 and we can advise on your doors.
Should I rekey after buying a house in Altadena?
Yes, it is a smart habit. You cannot know how many copies of the old keys exist. Rekeying every exterior door, plus gates and side-yard locks on larger lots, gives you a clean start.
My deadbolt seized after the fire. Can it be rekeyed?
Often it can be freed and rekeyed, but it depends on the damage. Soot and ash gum up the internals, and heat can warp parts. We inspect first and tell you honestly whether to clean it or replace it.
Can you key all my locks to one key?
Usually, yes, as long as the locks accept compatible keyways or the cylinders can be swapped. It is popular for front doors, back doors and gates. We confirm what is possible once we see the hardware.
Do you handle new construction and rebuild keying?
Yes. We can supply and key new locksets, set up a simple master-key system, and place contractor lockboxes to secure the site during construction. Call (323) 997-8867 to discuss your rebuild.
Do I need to be home during the rekey?
Someone should be there to give us access and receive the new keys, though a property manager or contractor can do that on your behalf. We will confirm the details when you book.
Do you come out at night or on weekends?
We are available 24/7 and fully mobile, so we can come to your Altadena property any day or night. There is no storefront, so we bring everything to you.
Will rekeying work on older Craftsman hardware?
Many older cylinders can be rekeyed, though some very old or worn ones are better replaced. We evaluate each lock individually and explain the options before doing the work.
DS

Reviewed by David Shar — Owner & Lead Technician

Crenshaw Lock Company has served Greater Los Angeles & Ventura County since 1987.

Last updated 2026-10-12.

Call (323) 997-8867 · Open 24/7