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Crenshaw Lock

Master Key System in Altadena · 24/7 mobile

Master Key System in Altadena, California

Crenshaw Lock Company designs and installs master-key and restricted-key systems with key control in Altadena, California. We are fully mobile and available 24/7, coming to your rebuild, rental, or property. Call (323) 997-8867 to talk through your doors and who needs access to what.

  • Mobile to your Altadena location
  • Available 24/7
  • Price quoted before we start
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A master key system lets different people open different doors with different keys, while one key higher up the chain opens them all. Done well, it replaces a jangling ring of keys with a clear structure: each tenant, crew, or family member carries only what they need, and the owner holds control. Done badly, it creates weak points, duplicated keys nobody can track, and doors that open for people who should not have access.

Altadena is in an unusual moment for this work. After the January 2025 Eaton Fire destroyed thousands of homes here, many owners are rebuilding from the ground up, which means all-new locksets going in at once. That is the best time to plan a master-key system, because you are not retrofitting mixed old hardware. You can decide on the hierarchy first, then key everything to match: front and back doors, garage, side-yard gates, a detached studio, and a contractor-controlled construction phase.

Crenshaw Lock Company has served Greater Los Angeles and Ventura County since 1987, led by owner and lead technician David Shar. We are mobile only, with no storefront, so the planning conversation and the installation both happen at your property. This page explains how a system gets designed here, what affects the cost, and what to ask before you commit.

How it works in Altadena

  1. 1

    Map the doors and the people

    We start by walking the property, or going through plans if the home is still being framed. We list every opening that needs a lock, such as entry doors, garage, gates, sheds, and any rental unit or office, and who needs access to each. On a larger hillside lot that often includes side-yard and gate locks that get forgotten.

  2. 2

    Design the key hierarchy

    Next we sketch the structure: a top master, any sub-masters for groups of doors, and individual change keys. For a single-family rebuild this may be as simple as one key for the family and one for a caretaker. For a multi-unit property it is more layered. We explain the tradeoffs, since every added level of access adds some security complexity.

  3. 3

    Choose hardware and keyway

    We select cylinders and locksets suited to the doors and the level of control you want. A restricted keyway means copies cannot be cut at a hardware-store kiosk, which supports real key control. We talk through grade, finish, and how the hardware matches the style of the home.

  4. 4

    Pin, install, and test every lock

    We pin the cylinders to the agreed design and install them on site. Each lock is tested with its own key, with the master, and with keys that should not work, so you know the system behaves as designed before we leave.

  5. 5

    Set up construction access if needed

    On an active rebuild we can use contractor lockboxes and temporary keying so crews can work while permanent keys stay in your hands. Once construction wraps, the permanent system takes over and the temporary access is retired.

  6. 6

    Document and hand over control

    We give you the key schedule and explain how to order additional keys or make changes later. Keeping that record, and limiting who can authorize copies, is what keeps the system trustworthy years down the road.

Need master key system in Altadena?

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What affects the price

  • The number of doors, gates, and locks included in the system, since each cylinder has to be pinned and tested.
  • How many levels the hierarchy has, from a simple master and change keys to multiple sub-masters.
  • The hardware you choose, including grade, finish, and whether you want a restricted keyway with controlled duplication.
  • Whether we are keying all-new locksets on a rebuild or converting existing hardware, which may need repair or replacement first.
  • The number of keys to be cut and who they are issued to.
  • Site conditions such as a large hillside lot with distant gates, or an active construction site that needs temporary access arrangements.

Why Altadena chooses us

  • Fully mobile and available 24/7, so planning and installation happen at your property rather than in a shop.
  • In business since 1987, with owner David Shar involved in the work rather than a faceless dispatch.
  • We design for how you actually live or operate, keeping hierarchies as simple as the situation allows.
  • We are familiar with Altadena's current situation, including rebuild keying, contractor jobsite security, and fire-stressed hardware on surviving homes.
  • We test every lock against both the keys that should work and the ones that should not.
  • We give you clear records and honest advice on who should hold the master.

Master Key System across Altadena

Altadena's housing runs from Craftsman bungalows and Spanish Colonial homes, especially in Janes Village, to mid-century houses on the hillsides near the Altadena Country Club and The Meadows. Since the Eaton Fire, a lot of properties around the 91001 and 91003 ZIP codes are in some stage of rebuilding, and that shapes the master-key work we do. A family rebuilding off Lake Ave or Fair Oaks Ave may want one key for the main house, garage, and gates, with a separate limited key for a contractor or house-sitter.

On surviving homes, the problem is often different. A Janes Village bungalow that stood through the fire may have deadbolts seized by heat, soot, and months of ash exposure. We can free or replace those cylinders and, while we are there, key them into a coordinated system so the home does not end up with a mismatched pile of keys. Families who have bought near Christmas Tree Lane on Santa Rosa Avenue and plan to rebuild often ask for gates and side-yard locks to be included too.

We travel Lincoln Ave, Altadena Dr, and Woodbury Rd to reach properties across town, from the streets near Charles White Park and Farnsworth Park to the foothill lots up toward the Cobb Estate and the Mount Lowe Railway site. Because we are mobile only, we come to you and plan around your build schedule.

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Other Altadena locksmith services

See all of our Altadena services, or our citywide master key system page.

Master Key System in Altadena — FAQs

What is a master key system?
It is a keying design where each lock has its own key, and one or more higher-level keys open multiple locks. It lets you control who has access to which doors without handing everyone the same key.
Does a rebuilt Altadena home need a master key system?
Not always, but a rebuild is the easiest time to set one up. All the locksets are new and can be keyed together. Even a simple setup for the house, garage, and gates can cut down on keys. Call (323) 997-8867 and we can talk through your plan.
Can you secure my jobsite during construction?
Yes. We can set up contractor lockboxes and temporary access so crews can get in while your permanent keys stay private. When construction ends, the permanent keying takes over.
Can you add my existing locks to a system?
Often, yes, if the cylinders can be re-pinned or swapped. Locks damaged by heat or soot may need to be freed or replaced first. We assess them on site.
What is a restricted keyway?
It is a keyway whose blanks are controlled, so copies cannot be cut casually at a kiosk. This supports key control, though it works best when you also limit who can authorize duplicates.
Do you handle gates and side-yard locks?
Yes. On larger Altadena lots, gates, side yards, and outbuildings are common, and we can include them in the same key hierarchy as the house.
How is the price determined?
It depends on the number of locks, how many levels of access you want, the hardware chosen, whether it is new or existing, and the keys needed. We do not quote numbers on this page, but you can call (323) 997-8867 to discuss your project.
Do you have a shop I can visit in Altadena?
No. We are fully mobile and come to your property, 24/7. Call (323) 997-8867 to get started.
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