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Crenshaw Lock

Master Key System in Lancaster · 24/7 mobile

Master Key System in Lancaster, California

Crenshaw Lock Company designs and installs master key and restricted key systems with real key control for Lancaster, California, properties. We are fully mobile and available 24/7, and we come to your site. Call (323) 997-8867 to talk through your doors, your users, and your goals.

  • Mobile to your Lancaster 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 solves a simple problem that gets complicated fast: too many doors, too many people, and too many keys. In Lancaster, we see it in strip centers along Avenue K and Avenue J, in apartment complexes and rental portfolios near The BLVD, in warehouses and small industrial buildings around the Fox Field area, and in office suites that have changed tenants several times. Without a plan, keys get copied freely, nobody knows who holds what, and a single lost key can mean rekeying everything.

A properly designed system works differently. Each door keeps its own key, and a defined hierarchy of master keys opens groups of doors. A tenant opens only their unit, a maintenance person opens the utility and common areas, and the owner or manager holds a grand master. Restricted keyways add the other half: keys that cannot be duplicated at a hardware store or kiosk without authorization, so you control who holds a key, not just who is supposed to.

Crenshaw Lock Company has served Greater Los Angeles and Ventura County since 1987, and owner David Shar's team is entirely mobile. There is no storefront to visit. We evaluate your property where it stands, design the system around how you really use the buildings, and install it on site. Whether you are starting fresh in a new build or fixing a mess of mismatched cylinders, we can help you plan something that stays manageable for years.

How it works in Lancaster

  1. 1

    Walk-through and needs assessment

    We visit the property and look at every door that needs to be on the system: entries, storefronts, offices, utility rooms, gates, and padlocked areas. We ask who needs access to what, how many people are involved, and how often tenants or staff change.

  2. 2

    Designing the key hierarchy

    We lay out the structure on paper before touching a lock: individual change keys, sub-masters for groups such as a building or a floor, and a grand master if the property needs one. We also discuss how much expansion room you want for future doors or tenants.

  3. 3

    Choosing hardware and restricted keyways

    We match cylinders and keyways to the doors you have. Aluminum storefront doors, commercial deadbolts, and standard residential-style locks each have different cylinder requirements. If you want duplication protection, we choose a restricted keyway and set up the authorization process.

  4. 4

    Installation and rekeying

    We install new cylinders or rekey existing hardware to the new design, working door by door and testing each key against every lock it should and should not open. Where a lock is worn, damaged, or sun-degraded, we tell you before building the system around it.

  5. 5

    Key control documentation

    You receive a clear record of the key schedule: which key opens which door and who is authorized to hold each one. We recommend a sign-out practice that fits your operation, from a simple log to stricter controls.

  6. 6

    Ongoing changes

    When a tenant leaves, an employee is let go, or a key is lost, a master key system lets you respond by changing the affected cylinders rather than the whole building. We are available around the clock to handle those follow-ups.

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What affects the price

  • The number of doors and cylinders that must be included in the system.
  • The depth of the hierarchy: a single master is simpler than multiple sub-masters plus a grand master.
  • Whether you choose standard keyways or a restricted, patent-protected keyway with duplication control.
  • The condition and type of existing hardware, such as whether current locks can be rekeyed or need replacement.
  • The number of keys to be cut for each level of the system.
  • Whether the work involves unusual doors such as aluminum storefronts, gates, or high-security hardware.

Why Lancaster chooses us

  • Fully mobile service: we come to your Lancaster property and do the design review and installation on site, with no storefront detour.
  • Available 24/7, so urgent changes after a break-in or a lost master key do not have to wait for business hours.
  • Serving the Los Angeles area since 1987, with owner-led oversight from David Shar.
  • We design around how you actually operate, not a one-size template, and we tell you honestly when simpler rekeying would serve you better.
  • We pay attention to hardware condition. Sun-damaged cylinders and worn storefront locks are common in the high desert, and we flag them before they undermine the system.
  • Clear documentation of the key schedule so you are not dependent on memory or on us to understand your own system.

Master Key System across Lancaster

Lancaster's mix of properties makes master key planning especially practical. Around The BLVD and downtown, older bungalows converted to offices and small apartment buildings often have a patchwork of locks installed over decades. Property managers there who turn units frequently benefit from a system where each tenant has a unique key but maintenance staff can still reach every unit. In ZIP code 93534, that kind of consolidation can replace a drawer of unlabeled keys with one organized schedule.

Out in East Lancaster and West Lancaster, we work with strip centers and small commercial buildings along Avenue K, Avenue J, and Avenue L, many with aluminum storefront doors. Those doors take narrow-profile cylinders, and the strong sun and wind of the Antelope Valley can degrade older hardware. After a break-in, that is often the moment an owner decides to move to a controlled, restricted system. ZIP codes 93535 and 93536 also include rental homes and vacant properties where lockbox and rekey work overlaps with key control for property managers.

Businesses near William J. Fox Airfield, venues around the Antelope Valley Fairgrounds, and organizations near the Lancaster Performing Arts Center often have many people who need partial access, such as staff, volunteers, vendors, and event crews. A master key system lets you give each group exactly the access it needs. With CA-14, Sierra Highway, and 10th Street West connecting the city, we can reach you across Lancaster and Quartz Hill whenever you call (323) 997-8867.

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Other Lancaster locksmith services

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

Master Key System in Lancaster — FAQs

What is a master key system?
It is a lock arrangement where each door has its own key, while higher-level master keys open defined groups of doors. It lets tenants or staff access only their spaces while managers and maintenance reach more. Call (323) 997-8867 to discuss a design.
Can you convert my existing locks into a master key system?
Often yes. Many commercial and residential-style cylinders can be rekeyed or pinned to fit a system. Worn or damaged hardware may need replacing, and we will tell you during the walk-through.
What does a restricted keyway do?
A restricted keyway uses key blanks that are not sold openly, so copies require authorization. This gives you real key control rather than relying on people to follow a no-copy stamp.
Is a master key system a good fit for rental properties in Lancaster?
It can be very helpful for landlords and property managers with many units. Each tenant gets a unique key, and you keep a master for maintenance and turnover. Rekeying a single unit becomes simpler too.
What happens if a master key is lost?
A lost master key is a bigger concern than a lost change key because it opens many doors. Depending on the system, we may rekey the affected cylinders or reconfigure the hierarchy. Call (323) 997-8867 any time, since we are available 24/7.
Can aluminum storefront doors be included?
Yes. Storefront doors commonly use specific cylinder types, and we can build them into the system. If a cylinder is sun-degraded or damaged from a break-in, we can replace it as part of the work.
Do I need to come to a shop?
No. Crenshaw Lock Company is fully mobile with no storefront. We come to your Lancaster property for the assessment and installation.
How do I price a master key system?
Cost depends on the number of doors, how complex the hierarchy is, the type of keyway, the existing hardware, and how many keys you need. We review these on site and explain the options before work starts.
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