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Crenshaw Lock

Broken Key Extraction in Glendale · 24/7 mobile

Broken Key Extraction in Glendale, California

Crenshaw Lock Company provides broken key extraction in Glendale, California, 24 hours a day. If a key has snapped off in a door lock, deadbolt, mailbox, or ignition, our fully mobile locksmiths come to you, remove the fragment, and cut a working replacement. Call (323) 997-8867.

  • Mobile to your Glendale 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 in the lock is one of the most frustrating small disasters there is. One moment you are turning the key to get into your Glendale apartment after a late shift, and the next you are holding half of it while the other half sits in the cylinder. The instinct is to reach for pliers or a bit of glue. Please don't. Most of the damage we see on these calls comes from well-meant attempts that push the fragment deeper or bend the pins.

Crenshaw Lock Company has served Greater Los Angeles and Ventura County since 1987, and owner and lead technician David Shar built the business on a simple idea: show up, fix the problem properly, and don't damage the hardware if it can be avoided. We are fully mobile, with no storefront, so everything happens at your door, your garage, or your car, at any hour of the day or night.

Broken key extraction is more than pulling out a stub. Once the fragment is out, the lock has to be checked, because a key usually breaks for a reason: a worn cylinder, a sticky mechanism, a swollen door, or a key that was cut badly years ago. We extract the piece, test the lock, and cut a replacement key so you are not left with the same problem next week.

How it works in Glendale

  1. 1

    You call and describe what happened

    Call (323) 997-8867 and tell us where the key broke: front door, deadbolt, gate, ignition, or a mailbox. Tell us whether the fragment is sticking out or sunk flush inside the cylinder. That helps us bring the right extractors and key-cutting equipment.

  2. 2

    We come to you

    Our technician travels to your location in Glendale. We are mobile and available around the clock, so there is no shop to get to. Please keep the broken pieces, since the matching half can help us identify the key blank.

  3. 3

    Inspecting the lock and the fragment

    Before touching anything, we look at how far the fragment sits, what kind of lock it is, and whether the cylinder is already worn or damaged. A wafer lock in a 1970s apartment door behaves differently than a pin tumbler deadbolt or an older mortise lock.

  4. 4

    Careful extraction

    We use thin extractor tools made for this job to hook or grip the fragment and draw it straight out without scoring the pins or the plug. If the fragment is stubborn, we may need to remove the cylinder to work on it at a bench, but we try the least invasive route first.

  5. 5

    Cutting the replacement key

    Once the lock is clear, we cut a new working key. If the original blank is worn, we can often cut a fresh one from the code or from the lock itself. We then test the key repeatedly to confirm it turns smoothly.

  6. 6

    Testing and advice

    We operate the lock several times and tell you honestly whether it is fine, needs lubrication or repair, or should be rekeyed or replaced. We only recommend further work when the lock warrants it.

Need broken key extraction in Glendale?

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

Call (323) 997-8867

What affects the price

  • Where the fragment sits: a piece sticking out of the lock is usually quicker to remove than one lodged deep in the plug.
  • The type of lock involved, such as a wafer entry lock, a pin tumbler deadbolt, an antique mortise cylinder, or an automotive ignition.
  • Whether the cylinder has to be removed or disassembled to get the fragment out, which adds labor.
  • The kind of replacement key needed, from a standard blank to a restricted, high-security, or transponder key.
  • The time of day and your location, since we are available 24/7 and after-hours calls differ from daytime appointments.
  • Whether the lock is damaged and needs repair, rekeying, or replacement once the fragment is out.

Why Glendale chooses us

  • Fully mobile service: we work at your door or vehicle instead of asking you to bring a lock anywhere.
  • In business since 1987, with David Shar as owner and lead technician.
  • Available 24 hours a day, which matters when a key breaks at night or on a weekend.
  • We try to save the existing lock first, which is useful with original 1920s mortise hardware in neighborhoods like Rossmoyne and Adams Hill.
  • We cut the replacement key on site, so extraction and a working key happen in the same visit.
  • We tell you plainly when a lock should be rekeyed or replaced, and when it does not need anything more.

Broken Key Extraction across Glendale

Glendale has a wide mix of locks, and a broken key behaves differently depending on the building. In Rossmoyne and Adams Hill, many 1920s Spanish and Mediterranean Revival homes still have original mortise hardware. Those cylinders are old, and a key that has worn thin over decades can snap without warning. We handle them with care because they are worth preserving, and a careful extraction often saves the original lock.

Across the 1960s to 1980s apartments and condos that fill much of the city, we more often see wafer entry locks and intercom-linked entries. A snapped key in a tenant's door is a common call, and in a building with many units we can also talk through rekeying so a lost or broken key does not become a security gap. Up in Verdugo Woodlands, hillside homes with detached garages, side gates, and newer deadbolts present their own mix of hardware, and we bring the tools to deal with each one at the door.

We serve all Glendale ZIP codes, including 91201, 91202, 91203, 91204, 91205, 91206, 91207, and 91208. Whether you are near The Americana at Brand, the Glendale Galleria, Brand Boulevard, or a street just off the Ventura Freeway or Glendale Freeway, call (323) 997-8867 and we will come to you. Downtown aluminum-storefront shops and Brand Boulevard condos with fob entries sometimes have a mechanical backup lock where a key can snap, and we can help with that too.

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 Glendale locksmith services

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

Broken Key Extraction in Glendale — FAQs

Should I try to pull out a broken key myself?
It is best not to. Pliers, glue, or a pin can push the fragment deeper or damage the pins. If a small piece is clearly sticking out, you can leave the lock alone and call (323) 997-8867. We will take it from there.
Do you work on car ignitions in Glendale or only door locks?
We handle both. Keys can snap in doors, deadbolts, padlocks, gates, mailboxes, and vehicle locks or ignitions. Tell us what you have when you call (323) 997-8867 so we bring the right tools.
Can you get a broken key out of an old mortise lock?
Often, yes. Many older Glendale homes, especially in Rossmoyne and Adams Hill, have original mortise hardware. We try to extract the fragment without harming the lock so it can stay in service.
Will I get a new key after the old one is extracted?
Yes. Replacement is part of the service. Once the lock is clear, we cut a new key on site and test it. If the lock is worn, we will explain whether rekeying or replacing makes sense.
Are you available at night and on weekends?
Yes. We are available 24/7 and fully mobile. Call (323) 997-8867 any time and we will come to your Glendale location.
What affects the cost of broken key extraction?
The main factors are how deep the fragment is, the lock type, whether the cylinder must be removed, the kind of replacement key, and the time of day. We do not guess without hearing the details, so call us and describe the situation.
I rent my apartment. Should I call you or my landlord?
Check your lease and notify your landlord or property manager, since the lock may be their responsibility. If you need access quickly, especially after hours, we can help once you have permission, and we can rekey if a manager wants it.
Why did my key break in the first place?
Common causes are a worn or badly cut key, a stiff or dirty lock, a misaligned door, or simple metal fatigue from years of use. After extraction we check the lock so we can tell you what likely caused it.
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