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Crenshaw Lock

Broken Key Extraction in Chatsworth · 24/7 mobile

Broken Key Extraction in Chatsworth, CA

Crenshaw Lock Company provides broken key extraction in Chatsworth, California, 24 hours a day. If a key has snapped in a door, padlock, gate, or ignition, our fully mobile team comes to you, removes the fragment, and cuts a replacement. Call (323) 997-8867.

  • Mobile to your Chatsworth 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 seems small until you are standing at your own door, or at a barn gate, or in a warehouse lot, holding half a key. The urge to jiggle it, push it back in, or grab pliers is strong, but that is usually how a clean break becomes a jammed cylinder. The fragment is often sitting just inside the keyway, and the right tools can lift it out without damaging the lock.

Chatsworth presents a wider mix of locks than most places. Along the northwest edge of the Valley, you have 1950s to 1970s ranch homes with entry hardware that has been turned thousands of times, semi-rural horsekeeping properties with gate locks and barn padlocks, and a large industrial district full of commercial deadbolts and roll-up-door hardware. Each of these fails differently, and each calls for a slightly different approach to getting a broken key out.

Crenshaw Lock Company has served Greater Los Angeles and Ventura County since 1987, led by owner and lead technician David Shar. We are 24/7 and fully mobile, so there is no shop to drive to. We come to the lock, extract what is broken, and make you a working key on site.

How it works in Chatsworth

  1. 1

    Call and describe what happened

    Phone (323) 997-8867 and tell us what the key broke in: a front door, a padlock, a gate, a roll-up door, or a vehicle ignition. Let us know whether the fragment is sticking out or sitting flush inside the keyway. Please do not keep trying to turn it. That detail helps us bring the right extractors.

  2. 2

    Inspect the lock and the fragment

    At your location, we look at the lock type, the condition of the cylinder, and how deep the broken piece sits. A worn residential deadbolt, a weathered padlock, and a commercial cylinder each tell us something about how gently the piece needs to come out.

  3. 3

    Extract the broken piece

    We use thin extraction tools designed to hook or grip the cut edge of the key and draw it straight out. The goal is to remove it without scoring the pins or damaging the cylinder. If the lock is gummed up with dust or debris, we clean it as part of the job.

  4. 4

    Check the lock's condition

    After the fragment is out, we test the cylinder. Keys often snap because the lock was already binding, which is common with older ranch-home hardware or locks exposed to heat and grit. We tell you honestly whether it can be kept or whether replacement makes more sense.

  5. 5

    Cut a replacement key

    We cut a new working key on site, matched to the lock, and test it several times. If you need extra copies for family members, tenants, or employees, we can make those while we are there.

  6. 6

    Repair, rekey, or replace if needed

    If the lock is damaged, we can repair it, rekey it, or replace it. You decide, and we explain the tradeoffs before any work beyond the extraction begins.

Need broken key extraction in Chatsworth?

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, since a basic residential knob, a deadbolt, a commercial cylinder, a padlock, and an ignition each take different tools and skill.
  • How deep the broken fragment sits and whether it has been pushed further in by earlier attempts to remove it.
  • Whether the lock is damaged or worn and needs cleaning, repair, rekeying, or replacement after the key is out.
  • The kind of replacement key required, such as a standard cut key, a high-security key, or a vehicle key that may need programming.
  • Time of day and the location of the job, since we serve nights, weekends, and holidays and travel to you.
  • How many keys or locks are involved, for example matching several padlocks or a set of commercial locks to one key.

Why Chatsworth chooses us

  • Fully mobile service: we come to your door, barn, warehouse, or vehicle, and there is no storefront you have to visit.
  • Serving Los Angeles and Ventura County since 1987, with David Shar as owner and lead technician.
  • Available 24/7, so a snapped key at night or on a weekend does not have to wait for business hours.
  • Extraction is done to save the lock where possible, and we say plainly when a lock is too worn to keep.
  • Comfortable with Chatsworth's varied hardware, from ranch-home deadbolts to gate locks, padlocks, and commercial cylinders.
  • We cut the replacement key on site, so you can leave with a working key rather than a promise.

Broken Key Extraction across Chatsworth

Chatsworth sits at the northwest corner of the San Fernando Valley, backed by the Santa Susana Mountains, and its locks live hard lives. In the Indian Hills and Santa Susana Pass area, hillside homes near Stoney Point Park deal with heat, dust, and Santa Ana grit that can stiffen a deadbolt until a key finally shears off. Cleaning the cylinder or re-pinning it after extraction often prevents a repeat. We also work in the 91311 area, where many ranch tract homes have original entry hardware that has simply worn out.

The equestrian and horsekeeping district has its own needs. Tack-room doors, barn padlocks, and driveway gate locks are exposed to weather and are often used with one hand while holding a lead rope, which makes snapped keys more likely. If a key breaks in a barn padlock near Santa Susana Pass Road, we can extract it and, if the padlock has seen better days, replace it and the gate lock.

Across the industrial and business district around Canoga, Prairie, and Lassen, and in the 91313 area, tenants and property managers deal with roll-up-door padlocks, commercial deadbolts, and warehouse doors. A key that breaks in one of those is a business interruption, not just an annoyance. We reach Chatsworth via Topanga Canyon Blvd, Devonshire St, Nordhoff St, and the Ronald Reagan Freeway, whether you are near the Chatsworth Transportation Center or out toward the Chatsworth Nature Preserve.

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 Chatsworth locksmith services

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

Broken Key Extraction in Chatsworth — FAQs

What should I do right after a key breaks in the lock?
Stop turning it and do not push the piece deeper. Avoid superglue, pliers, or knife tips, which often make extraction harder. Call (323) 997-8867 and we will talk you through what to do next.
Can you remove a broken key without damaging the lock?
In most cases, yes. We use thin extraction tools made for this and work to leave the pins and cylinder intact. If the lock was already worn or damaged, we will tell you before doing anything beyond extraction.
Do you handle broken keys in car ignitions too?
Yes. We extract broken key pieces from vehicle ignitions and door locks. If you need a replacement key for the car, call (323) 997-8867 and tell us the make, model, and year so we can plan accordingly.
Can you help with a broken key in a barn padlock or gate lock?
Yes. Equestrian properties around Chatsworth often have padlocks and gate locks that take a beating from weather and daily use. We can extract the key, and if the lock is corroded or worn, replace it.
Do you work on warehouse and commercial locks in the industrial district?
Yes. We handle commercial deadbolts, roll-up-door padlocks, and warehouse locks. If you also want locks rekeyed to a single key after a lease change, we can discuss that during the same visit.
Why did my key snap in the first place?
Common causes include a worn key, a lock that is binding because of dust, grit, or lack of lubrication, or hardware that has aged. Chatsworth's heat and dust can make deadbolts stiff. We check the lock after extraction so the key does not break again.
Will I get a new key right away?
Yes. We cut a replacement on site once the fragment is out, and we test it in the lock before we leave. We can make extra copies at the same visit.
Are you available at night and on weekends?
Yes. We are 24/7 and fully mobile, so you can call (323) 997-8867 any time. We do not have a storefront; we come to you wherever in Chatsworth you are.
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