Open 24/7 · Greater Los Angeles & Ventura County

(323) 997-8867
Crenshaw Lock

Master Key System in Inglewood · 24/7 mobile

Master Key System in Inglewood, California

Crenshaw Lock Company designs and installs master key and restricted key systems with real key control for Inglewood, California properties. We are a fully mobile locksmith, available 24/7, and we come to your building. To talk through your property, call (323) 997-8867.

  • Mobile to your Inglewood location
  • Available 24/7
  • Price quoted before we start
Call (323) 997-8867or tap to call — we answer 24/7
Large ring of master system keys with colored key caps
Open now(323) 997-8867

A master key system lets one key open many doors while each lock still has its own key. A maintenance lead can carry one key for a whole building, a manager can open every unit, and a tenant or employee carries only the key they need. Done well, it reduces the number of keys in circulation and gives you a clear record of who can open what. Done badly, it creates a tangle of duplicates and a security gap nobody can account for.

Inglewood is a good example of why design matters. The city mixes 1960s to 1980s apartment complexes, older stucco and Spanish-style buildings, small businesses along Manchester Blvd, Century Blvd and Market Street, and event-driven commercial activity around SoFi Stadium, the Kia Forum and the Intuit Dome. Each of these has different access needs, from a landlord who rekeys between tenants to a hospitality business that needs staff, vendors and managers on different levels of access.

Crenshaw Lock Company has served Greater Los Angeles and Ventura County since 1987, led by owner and lead technician David Shar. We are mobile only, with no storefront to visit. We work on site, look at your doors, ask how your people actually move through the building, and then lay out a system that fits. We can also set up restricted keyways, where keys cannot be casually copied at a hardware store, so key control is more than a promise.

How it works in Inglewood

  1. 1

    Walk the property and map the doors

    We start by visiting your site and listing every door that needs a lock: unit entries, utility rooms, offices, storage, gates, mailboxes and roof or equipment access. We note the existing hardware, its condition and which doors are exterior and which are interior.

  2. 2

    Define who needs access to what

    Next we sort users into levels. Typical tiers are individual doors, groups of doors such as a floor or wing, and a top-level key for the owner or manager. We talk through staff turnover, contractors, cleaners and emergency access so the structure matches real life.

  3. 3

    Design the keying plan

    We write up a keying chart showing how each lock responds to which keys. We also discuss whether you want a restricted keyway for stronger key control, and how many levels the system should allow for future growth, so you are not locked out of expanding later.

  4. 4

    Install and pin the cylinders

    We install or rekey cylinders on site to match the plan. Where existing hardware is worn or mismatched, we point it out and suggest replacement. Each cylinder is tested with its intended keys and with keys that should not work.

  5. 5

    Cut and label the keys

    We cut the keys, mark them to your coding scheme and test them on the doors they are meant to open. You receive the keying chart so you know exactly what each key does.

  6. 6

    Set up key control going forward

    We explain how to log issued keys, handle departures and request additional copies. If you add doors or tenants later, we can extend the system rather than starting over.

Need master key system in Inglewood?

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

Call (323) 997-8867

What affects the price

  • The number of doors and cylinders in the system, since each one needs to be keyed, installed and tested.
  • The number of access levels and key groups, which affects how complex the keying plan and pinning work become.
  • Whether you choose a standard keyway or a restricted keyway with tighter key control.
  • The condition of existing hardware, because worn or mismatched locks may need replacing rather than just rekeying.
  • How many keys you need cut and whether they require special coding or stamping.
  • Site conditions such as gates, outdoor locks, panic hardware or doors spread across several buildings, and whether work is scheduled or urgent.

Why Inglewood chooses us

  • We are fully mobile, so the whole job happens at your property and we can see your actual doors rather than guessing from a description.
  • Since 1987 we have worked on residential, commercial and multi-unit properties around Greater Los Angeles, which helps when a system has to span very different door types.
  • Owner and lead tech David Shar is involved in the work, not just the sales call.
  • We plan the system around how your people use the building, including turnover and contractors, instead of dropping in a stock configuration.
  • We discuss restricted keyways honestly, including what they do and do not protect against, so you can decide if the extra control is worth it.
  • We provide a keying chart so your key structure is documented and can be expanded later.

Master Key System across Inglewood

Inglewood's building mix shapes how master key systems get used here. In the older grids of Morningside Park and North Inglewood, 1920s Spanish and Craftsman buildings often still have original mortise locks. Small offices, multi-unit conversions and mixed-use properties in these areas can benefit from replacing a pile of mismatched keys with one organized system. Around ZIP 90301 and 90302, where older buildings sit near busy corridors like La Brea Ave and Prairie Ave, we often start by simply cataloguing what is already on the doors.

Apartment stock is a major use. Many complexes built from the 1960s through the 1980s, including those off Manchester Blvd, need a manager key that opens every unit, maintenance keys limited to certain buildings, and clean rekeys between tenants. In Fairview Heights and Arbor Village, and in properties across ZIP 90303 and 90305, a master system can make turnover easier because a rekey changes the tenant's key without disturbing the management structure.

The commercial side is changing quickly. SoFi Stadium, the Hollywood Park development, the Kia Forum and the Intuit Dome bring event traffic, and nearby retail, hospitality and service businesses often have rotating staff, vendors and seasonal workers. A tiered key system with restricted keys helps those businesses control access. We are available 24/7 and travel to you across Inglewood, along I-405, I-105, Crenshaw Blvd and Century Blvd, so we can plan work around event schedules and business hours.

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 Inglewood locksmith services

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

Master Key System in Inglewood — FAQs

What is a master key system?
It is a set of locks designed so each lock has its own key, while higher-level keys can open multiple locks. A manager might have one key that opens every door, while a tenant or employee has only theirs. Call (323) 997-8867 to discuss how that would work for your property.
Can you set up a master key system for an Inglewood apartment building?
Yes. Apartment properties are a common use. We can key each unit individually, add a manager key and maintenance keys, and make future tenant rekeys simpler. We can also cover mailbox locks and common-area doors if you want them on the system.
What is a restricted keyway?
A restricted keyway uses a key blank that is not freely sold, so copies are harder to make without authorization. It improves key control, though it is not a substitute for good procedures. We can explain the tradeoffs for your property when we visit.
Can you add doors to a system later?
Often yes, if the system was designed with room to grow. That is why we plan levels and keying charts up front. If you already have a system installed by someone else, we can look at it and tell you honestly whether it can be extended.
Do you work with businesses near SoFi Stadium or the Forum?
Yes. We serve commercial properties across Inglewood, including those near event venues. We can discuss key levels for staff and vendors, and handle storefront locks or panic hardware. For urgent needs, call (323) 997-8867.
Do I need to replace all my locks?
Not always. If your existing cylinders are in good shape and compatible, we can often rekey them into the system. Worn, damaged or mismatched hardware may be better replaced, and we will tell you which is which.
Is there a storefront I can visit?
No. Crenshaw Lock Company is fully mobile and works at your location. We are available 24/7, and you can reach us at (323) 997-8867.
Can you handle old mortise locks in historic Inglewood buildings?
Yes. Many 1920s buildings in Morningside Park and North Inglewood have original mortise hardware. We can assess whether it can be rekeyed into a system or whether replacement is the better route, depending on condition and your goals.
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