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Crenshaw Lock

Master Key System in East Los Angeles · 24/7 mobile

Master Key System in East Los Angeles, California

Crenshaw Lock Company designs and installs master key and restricted-key systems in East Los Angeles, with real key control for landlords, shops and property managers. We are fully mobile and available 24/7, and we come to your site. Call (323) 997-8867 to plan a system.

  • Mobile to your East Los Angeles location
  • Available 24/7
  • Price quoted before we start
Call (323) 997-8867or tap to call — we answer 24/7
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A master key system lets one key open many locks while each person carries only the key they need. A tenant opens their own unit, a manager opens every unit, and a shop owner can give an employee access to the stockroom without handing over the whole building. Done well, it replaces a jangling ring of keys nobody can account for with a clear structure you can explain on a single page.

East Los Angeles has a lot of properties that benefit from this. Many lots hold a 1920s to 1940s bungalow with a converted garage or back-house behind it. Many buildings also have security screen doors, perimeter gates and roll-down shop gates, each with its own lock. Along Whittier Boulevard, Cesar Chavez Avenue and Atlantic Boulevard, small businesses often have an aluminum storefront, a rear door, a back office and a gate, all on separate keys. Consolidating that sensibly takes planning, not just cutting more copies.

Crenshaw Lock Company has served Greater Los Angeles and Ventura County since 1987, and owner and lead technician David Shar has seen how keys pile up on older properties. We are mobile only, with no storefront to visit. We do the design conversation, the lock work and the key cutting at your property, and we explain which approach fits your building and your budget.

How it works in East Los Angeles

  1. 1

    Walk the property and list every lock

    We start by going through the property with you: front and rear doors, screen doors with their own keyed locks, gate locks, padlocks, storefront doors and any converted units. We note what hardware is worn out, what can be rekeyed, and what should be replaced before it goes into a system.

  2. 2

    Decide who needs access to what

    We map out your access levels. That might be tenant, building manager and owner, or employee, shift lead and owner. This hierarchy becomes the blueprint for the key system, and it is much easier to settle on paper than after the locks are installed.

  3. 3

    Design the system and choose the keyway

    We lay out the structure of change keys, master keys and, where useful, a grand master. For stronger control we discuss restricted keyways, where blanks and duplication are limited, so a key cannot be copied at any hardware kiosk. We explain the tradeoffs between flexibility and security in plain language.

  4. 4

    Install and rekey on site

    We rekey or replace cylinders at your property, including entry doors, back-house locks, screen-door locks and gate hardware that suit the system. Older hardware that cannot be rekeyed reliably is flagged, and we recommend a replacement rather than building a system on a weak lock.

  5. 5

    Cut, test and label the keys

    Every key is tested on every lock it should and should not open. We set up a simple key schedule recording which key opens which door, so you can track issued keys and add or retire them later.

  6. 6

    Hand over the key control plan

    We walk you through how to issue, log and recover keys, and what to do when someone leaves. When a tenant moves out or an employee departs, you will know whether a single rekey is enough or whether a key needs to be replaced.

Need master key system in East Los Angeles?

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What affects the price

  • The number of locks and doors included, since each cylinder has to be rekeyed or replaced to join the system.
  • The complexity of the hierarchy, such as one master key versus several levels with a grand master.
  • Whether you choose standard keyways or a restricted keyway with duplication control.
  • The condition of existing hardware, because worn or damaged locks on older buildings may need replacing rather than rekeying.
  • The number of keys to be cut and the number of people who will carry them.
  • Mixed hardware types, such as gate locks, padlocks, security-door locks and deadbolts, which can need different parts and more time.

Why East Los Angeles chooses us

  • We are fully mobile and available 24/7, so we work around your business hours and tenant schedules instead of asking you to come to a shop.
  • We have worked in Greater Los Angeles since 1987 and are familiar with the older bungalow hardware and security-bar setups common in East LA.
  • We consider the whole property, including screen doors, fences, gates and back-house units, not just the main entry door.
  • We tell you honestly when a lock is too worn to include in a system, rather than building on a weak point.
  • We provide a clear key schedule so you can see what each key opens and manage it going forward.
  • You deal directly with a small local operation led by David Shar, not a call center.

Master Key System across East Los Angeles

East Los Angeles is a dense, working-class unincorporated community, and its properties show it. In Belvedere and City Terrace, a typical lot might have a 1930s stucco bungalow, a steel security screen door with its own lock, a fence gate and a converted back-house. A landlord there often wants one master key for themselves and separate keyed-alike or individual keys for each unit. This is a common starting point for a master key system, especially after a tenant move-out when everything needs rekeying anyway.

Business properties follow a different pattern. Along Whittier Boulevard, Cesar Chavez Avenue and Atlantic Boulevard, many shops have an aluminum storefront, a rear door, a roll-down security gate and sometimes a storeroom or office. A system for a shop in ZIP 90022 or 90023 might give the owner full access, a manager access to the front and storeroom, and staff access only to what they need. Properties near the East LA Civic Center or in Maravilla and Eastmont, in ZIP 90063, can have similar needs for small offices and mixed-use buildings.

Because we travel to you, we can handle the whole job without leaving you short of working locks. Whether you are near City Terrace Park or close to the East Los Angeles Interchange where I-5, I-10, US-101 and SR-60 meet, call (323) 997-8867 and we will plan a system around your building.

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Other East Los Angeles locksmith services

See all of our East Los Angeles services, or our citywide master key system page.

Master Key System in East Los Angeles — FAQs

What is a master key system?
It is a lock arrangement in which each lock has its own key, and one or more higher-level keys open several or all of them. A tenant key opens one unit, while a manager's master key opens every unit. Call (323) 997-8867 to discuss how it would work at your property.
Can you set up a system for a house with a converted back-house?
Yes. Many East LA lots have a main house and a converted garage or back-house. We can arrange the locks so each unit has its own key and the landlord has a master that opens everything, or key some doors alike if that suits you better.
Can security screen doors and gates be included?
Often yes, if the lock can be rekeyed or replaced with one that fits the system. Screen-door and gate locks are common in Belvedere and City Terrace, and we check each one. A seized or badly worn lock may need replacing first.
What is a restricted key system?
A restricted keyway uses blanks that are not freely sold, so copies cannot be made at ordinary key shops. It gives you stronger control over who holds keys. We explain the benefits and limits when we design your system.
Is a master key system less secure than separate keys?
A master system adds some theoretical risk because more keys open each lock, but a well-designed one with good key control is often more secure in practice, because you know who holds which key. We discuss this openly so you can choose.
Do you work with Whittier Boulevard businesses?
Yes. We handle storefront doors, back doors, storerooms and gate hardware for small businesses along Whittier Boulevard, Cesar Chavez Avenue and Atlantic Boulevard. Call (323) 997-8867 to arrange a visit.
Can you add keys or change the system later?
Generally yes. A properly planned system leaves room to add locks and keys over time, and we keep a key schedule to make that easier. Very large changes may call for redesigning part of the structure.
Do I need to come to a shop?
No. Crenshaw Lock Company is fully mobile, so we come to your property in East Los Angeles, and we are available 24/7.
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