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Crenshaw Lock

Broken Key Extraction in Burbank · 24/7 mobile

Broken Key Extraction in Burbank, California

Crenshaw Lock Company provides broken key extraction in Burbank, California, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. If a key has snapped in a door, deadbolt, padlock or ignition, our fully mobile locksmiths come to you, remove the piece and cut a replacement. Call (323) 997-8867.

  • Mobile to your Burbank location
  • Available 24/7
  • Price quoted before we start
Call (323) 997-8867or tap to call — we answer 24/7
Broken key stuck in a lock cylinder next to an extractor tool
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A key that snaps off in a lock is one of those problems that feels small until you are standing outside your own door, or sitting in a car that will not start. In Burbank it happens in every kind of setting: a worn brass key breaking in a front-door deadbolt on a quiet street off Olive Ave, a car key giving way in an ignition in a lot near Hollywood Way, or a padlock key shearing in a gate that has seen too many winters. The good news is that most broken keys can be removed without damaging the lock, and that is always the goal.

Crenshaw Lock Company has served Greater Los Angeles and Ventura County since 1987, and owner and lead technician David Shar built the business on careful, hands-on work like this. We are fully mobile. There is no storefront to drive to; the tools and key-cutting equipment come to your door, your driveway or your parking space, at any hour.

Extraction is only half of the job. Once the broken piece is out, you still need a working key. We cut a replacement so you are not left with a lock you cannot use, and we will tell you honestly if the lock itself is worn enough that a repair or replacement makes more sense than carrying on with it.

How it works in Burbank

  1. 1

    You call and describe what broke

    Call (323) 997-8867 any time. Tell us whether the key snapped in a door, a padlock, a mailbox or a vehicle ignition, and whether part of the key is still sticking out of the keyway. That helps us bring the right extractors and key blanks.

  2. 2

    We come to you

    Because we are fully mobile, a technician travels to your location in Burbank, whether that is a bungalow in Magnolia Park, a gated property in the Rancho District or an office in the Media District. Please do not try to push the piece deeper into the lock while you wait.

  3. 3

    Assess the lock and the break

    We look at how the key broke and where the fragment sits. A piece sticking out of the keyway is a very different job than one sitting deep in the plug, and an old, worn or corroded lock behaves differently from a newer one.

  4. 4

    Extract the broken piece

    Using fine extraction tools made for this work, we remove the fragment without drilling when possible. The aim is to preserve the lock and its finish, which matters on vintage hardware and on vehicle ignitions.

  5. 5

    Cut a replacement key

    With the lock clear, we cut a working key from the lock itself or from the remaining part of your original. We test it several times to make sure it turns smoothly rather than binding or sticking.

  6. 6

    Advise on wear and next steps

    If the lock is worn, stiff or the cause of the break, we explain your options plainly, from simple lubrication or rekeying to replacement. You decide what happens next.

Need broken key extraction in Burbank?

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

Call (323) 997-8867

What affects the price

  • The type of lock involved: a standard house deadbolt, a vintage mortise lock, a padlock and a vehicle ignition each call for different tools and different amounts of care.
  • How deep the broken piece sits and whether it is jammed or bent, since a visible fragment is usually quicker to remove than one lodged deep in the plug.
  • The condition of the lock, because corrosion, debris or heavy wear can make extraction slower and may affect whether the lock can be saved.
  • The kind of replacement key needed, such as a basic mechanical key versus a transponder or high-security key for a vehicle or commercial system.
  • The time of day and your location, since we work around the clock and travel to you.
  • Whether the lock also needs repair, rekeying or replacement after extraction, which is quoted separately from the extraction itself.

Why Burbank chooses us

  • Fully mobile service: we bring the equipment to you in Burbank, with no shop visit and no need to move a car or door.
  • Serving Greater Los Angeles and Ventura County since 1987, with owner and lead tech David Shar guiding the work.
  • Available 24/7, including nights, weekends and holidays, because keys do not break on a convenient schedule.
  • We try to save your lock first, which matters on original 1920s to 1940s hardware you may not want to replace.
  • Extraction and replacement key in one visit, so you are not left with an open problem.
  • Straight advice: if a lock is failing, we say so, and we do not push replacement when extraction will do.

Broken Key Extraction across Burbank

Burbank has a wide range of locks, and a broken key behaves differently depending on where you are. In Magnolia Park, many homes are 1920s to 1940s Spanish and California bungalows, some still carrying original mortise and skeleton-key hardware. Old brass keys fatigue, and a mortise lock with decades of grime can snap a key at the worst moment. We take extra care there to remove the fragment without marring the door or damaging hardware worth preserving. Around the antique shops on Magnolia Boulevard, shop doors and back-room padlocks see daily use and wear out in much the same way.

The Rancho District is a different world: equestrian properties with gates, barns, stables and tack rooms. Padlocks and gate locks there live outdoors, and corrosion and dust are common reasons keys snap. A broken key in a driveway gate lock or tack-room padlock can leave animals or equipment inaccessible, so we come out to properties across ZIP codes like 91504 and 91505 and get the lock working again, or tell you when a corroded one should be replaced.

We also respond to the Media District and the areas near Warner Bros. Studios, Walt Disney Studios and Hollywood Burbank Airport, where office doors, storefront locks and vehicles are in constant use. Whether you are off the I-5, the SR-134, Victory Blvd or San Fernando Blvd, or in a home in 91506 or 91501, call (323) 997-8867 and we will come to you.

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 Burbank locksmith services

See all of our Burbank services, or our citywide broken key extraction page.

Broken Key Extraction in Burbank — FAQs

Can a broken key be removed without damaging the lock?
In most cases, yes. Fine extraction tools let us remove the fragment without drilling, so the lock keeps working. If the lock is badly worn or corroded, we will tell you before doing anything that could damage it.
What should I do right after a key breaks in a lock?
Stop turning it and do not push the broken piece deeper. If part of the key sticks out, keep it, since it can help us cut a replacement. Then call Crenshaw Lock Company at (323) 997-8867.
Do you handle keys broken in car ignitions in Burbank?
Yes. We extract broken keys from vehicle ignitions and can cut a replacement. Because we are mobile, we come to your car, whether it is at home, at work or in a parking lot. Call (323) 997-8867 to discuss your vehicle.
Can you extract a broken key from an old mortise lock in Magnolia Park?
Yes. Many Magnolia Park bungalows have original mortise hardware, and we work carefully to remove the piece without harming the vintage lock or door. We can also discuss rekeying afterward.
Will you cut me a new key on the spot?
Yes. After extraction, we cut a replacement key as part of the visit and test it in the lock. If you need a specialty or transponder key, we will explain what is involved first.
Can you help with a broken key in a padlock or gate lock on a Rancho District property?
Yes. We service tack-room padlocks, barn locks and driveway gate locks. If corrosion caused the break, we may recommend a replacement lock. Call (323) 997-8867 for help.
Are you available at night and on weekends?
Yes. We operate 24/7 and are fully mobile, so we can help with a broken key at any hour, including holidays.
How is the price determined?
It depends on the lock type, how the key broke, the condition of the lock, the replacement key needed and when and where you call. We explain the factors and the cost before work begins.
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