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Crenshaw Lock

Master Key System in Commerce · 24/7 mobile

Master Key System Design and Installation in Commerce, CA

Crenshaw Lock Company designs and installs master key and restricted key systems for Commerce, California warehouses, distribution centers, offices and storefronts. We are fully mobile and available 24/7, and we come to your site. Call (323) 997-8867 to plan a system around your doors and your people.

  • Mobile to your Commerce location
  • Available 24/7
  • Price quoted before we start
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A master key system lets the right people open the right doors with as few keys as possible. A warehouse manager may carry one key that opens every dock door, office and supply cage, while a shift lead carries a key that opens only the floor and break room. A tenant in a multi-bay building may have a key that opens only their own bay. Done well, the system cuts the key ring down and gives you a clear record of who holds what. Done badly, it creates a tangle of duplicated keys nobody can account for.

Commerce is a good example of where this matters. The city is overwhelmingly industrial: warehouses, distribution centers, cold-storage buildings, and the BNSF Hobart intermodal yard in the middle of it all. Add the aluminum-storefront commercial strips along Washington Blvd and Atlantic Blvd, and you have a mix of buildings with many doors, many employees, and frequent turnover. Every one of those doors is a place where a lost or unreturned key can become a real security problem.

Crenshaw Lock Company has served Greater Los Angeles and Ventura County since 1987, and owner David Shar and the team work from a fully mobile setup. There is no storefront to visit. We come to your facility, walk the doors with you, and design a system that fits how your operation runs, from roll-up doors and hasps to panic hardware on office exits.

How it works in Commerce

  1. 1

    Walk the site and list every opening

    We start by visiting your building and listing every lock that needs to be part of the system: office doors, dock roll-ups, gates, cages, utility rooms, and exit hardware. We note the type of each lock, its condition, and whether it can be keyed into a system or needs replacing.

  2. 2

    Map who needs access to what

    Next we sit down with you and map out access levels. That usually means a top-level master, department or area sub-masters, and individual change keys. We talk through shifts, contractors, tenants, and who realistically needs to open which doors.

  3. 3

    Design the keying structure and choose hardware

    We then lay out the key hierarchy on paper and recommend a keyway. For sites that want tighter control, a restricted keyway means keys cannot be copied at a hardware store kiosk. We also talk about high-security padlocks for gates and dock doors, since those often sit outside the main cylinders.

  4. 4

    Install, pin, and rekey on site

    Because we are mobile, we do the work at your location. We install new cylinders where needed, rekey existing ones to the new structure, and fit hasps or padlocks as planned. Work can be scheduled around your operations, and we are available 24/7 when timing is tight.

  5. 5

    Test every key against every lock

    Before we leave, we test each key in each lock it should open, and confirm it does not open the ones it should not. Catching a pinning mistake on the day is far better than finding it when someone is locked out of a bay.

  6. 6

    Set up key control and records

    We give you a key schedule showing who holds which level of key and recommend a simple sign-out process. If an employee leaves or a key goes missing, you will know which part of the system is affected and can rekey only what you need to.

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What affects the price

  • The number of doors, gates, and padlocks that need to be included in the system.
  • The keyway you choose, including whether you want a restricted or patent-protected key that is harder to duplicate.
  • How many levels the hierarchy has, such as master, sub-master, and individual keys, and how many keys of each type you need.
  • The condition of existing hardware, since worn or mismatched locks may need replacement rather than rekeying.
  • Special hardware such as high-security padlocks, hasps, panic exit devices, and roll-up door cylinders.
  • Timing and scheduling, including after-hours work around active shifts or an urgent reset after a key goes missing.

Why Commerce chooses us

  • We are fully mobile, so the design and installation happen at your building rather than requiring you to bring locks to a shop.
  • We have worked since 1987 and are comfortable with the mix of industrial doors, roll-ups, and storefront hardware that Commerce businesses use.
  • We plan the hierarchy with you first, so the system reflects how your shifts, tenants, and departments really operate.
  • We can include high-security padlocks and hasps for dock gates and chain-link perimeters in the same plan as your interior locks.
  • We are available 24/7, which matters when a key goes missing at the end of a shift and you need to know the building is secure.
  • We test the full system before leaving and give you a clear key schedule, so you are not guessing about who can open what.

Master Key System across Commerce

Commerce businesses face a particular mix of challenges. Around the BNSF Hobart intermodal yard, distribution centers have many dock roll-up doors, padlocked gates, and office exits fitted with panic hardware. When an employee is terminated, the question is not just one lock but the whole ring of keys that person may have carried. A master key system, paired with a rekey of the affected sections, lets a facility reset access in an organized way instead of replacing hardware door by door.

Along Washington Blvd and Atlantic Blvd, aluminum-storefront buildings and small warehouses often share a corner with neighbors, and tenants change. A tenant-based system lets each business control its own space while a property manager holds a higher-level key where appropriate. Properties in the 90040 ZIP, as well as nearby 90022 and 90023, often include a blend of offices, shop bays, and yard gates that benefit from this kind of layered approach. Businesses near the Citadel district, close to the Citadel Outlets and Commerce Casino, may also have retail back rooms and service entrances to include.

Residential pockets such as Rosewood Park and Bandini are a minority in Commerce, but they exist, and some owners with small rental buildings or mixed-use properties ask about keyed-alike or small master systems too. Whatever the property, we come to you, whether you are near I-5, I-710, SR-60, or off Telegraph Rd or Eastern Ave. Call (323) 997-8867 any time to talk it through.

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Other Commerce locksmith services

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

Master Key System in Commerce — FAQs

What is a master key system?
It is a locking arrangement where each lock has its own key, and one or more higher-level keys open multiple locks. For example, a manager's key may open every door while an employee's key opens only one area. It reduces key clutter and gives you structured access control.
Can you convert my existing locks into a master key system?
Often yes. Many commercial cylinders can be rekeyed into a system, which saves replacing everything. Worn or mismatched locks may need new cylinders. We check each opening during the site visit and tell you what can be reused. Call (323) 997-8867 to schedule a walkthrough.
What is a restricted key system, and do I need one?
A restricted keyway uses blanks that are not freely available, so keys cannot be casually copied. It is useful for distribution centers, tenants with valuable inventory, and any place where you want tighter control over who can duplicate keys. We can discuss whether it fits your site.
An employee was terminated and still has keys. What should we do?
Act quickly. If you have a master key system, we can rekey the affected levels, including dock padlocks and office panic hardware, instead of replacing every lock. We are available 24/7 and mobile, so call (323) 997-8867 and we can plan the reset with you.
Can padlocks and gate locks be part of the same system?
Yes, in many cases. High-security padlocks and hasps for dock doors, gates, and roll-up doors can be keyed to fit within your overall plan, or kept on a separate key if you prefer. We will recommend what suits each opening.
Do you serve businesses near the Hobart rail yard and Washington Blvd?
Yes. We are mobile and serve all of Commerce, including industrial areas near the BNSF Hobart yard, commercial buildings along Washington Blvd and Atlantic Blvd, and neighborhoods such as Bandini and Bristow Park.
What is the downside of a master key system?
Any master system adds some complexity, because a lost top-level key affects more doors. That is why key control matters: limiting who holds master keys, recording who has them, and rekeying promptly if one is lost. We help you set that up.
How do I get started?
Call (323) 997-8867 and tell us about your building, how many doors you have, and who needs access. We will schedule a site visit, review options with you, and explain the work before anything is installed.
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