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Crenshaw Lock

Master Key System in Lawndale · 24/7 mobile

Master Key System in Lawndale, California

Crenshaw Lock Company designs and installs master key and restricted key systems with key control for Lawndale, California properties. We are fully mobile and available 24/7, so we come to your building. Call (323) 997-8867 to talk through your doors, your users, and how you want access organized.

  • Mobile to your Lawndale 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 lock still has its own key. Done well, a landlord carries one key for a whole building, a maintenance person opens only the doors they need, and a tenant's key opens only their own unit. Done poorly, it becomes a ring of mystery keys nobody can account for. In Lawndale, where so much of the housing is apartments and small commercial space, the difference matters every week.

Crenshaw Lock Company has served Greater Los Angeles and Ventura County since 1987, and owner and lead technician David Shar has seen how access problems build up in small buildings: keys copied without record, former employees or tenants who never returned keys, and locks of mixed brands that cannot be tied together. A proper system starts by sorting that out on paper, before any cylinders are changed.

We are mobile only. There is no storefront to visit. We come to your property, walk the doors with you, and design the system around how the building is actually used. That might mean a keyed-alike set for maintenance access, a full multi-level master system, or a restricted keyway so keys cannot be duplicated at a hardware store without authorization.

How it works in Lawndale

  1. 1

    Walk the property and list every opening

    We visit the building and look at each door: unit entries, laundry and trash rooms, gates, mail areas, storefront doors, back doors. We note the existing hardware, its condition, and who needs to get through each opening.

  2. 2

    Define who needs access to what

    We sit down with you to set the hierarchy. Typical layers are a grand master for the owner, a master for maintenance or a manager, and individual change keys for each tenant or employee. We also talk about whether you want restricted keyways for duplication control.

  3. 3

    Design the keying plan

    We lay out the system in writing, showing which keys open which locks. A clear plan keeps the system expandable, so adding units or doors later does not force a redo. Keeping the plan documented is the foundation of key control.

  4. 4

    Install and rekey the hardware

    We fit or rekey cylinders to the plan. Builder-grade knobs and deadbolts that are worn out are flagged, since a master system works best on hardware that actually operates smoothly. We replace what needs replacing and rekey what is sound.

  5. 5

    Test every lock and every key

    Each key is tested on every lock it should open and every lock it should not. We catch problems on site, not after a tenant is locked out.

  6. 6

    Hand over keys and key-control records

    You receive the keys, a clear record of the system, and guidance on tracking who holds what. We explain how to handle departures, lost keys, and future additions.

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What affects the price

  • The number of doors or cylinders included in the system, since each opening needs its own keying.
  • How many access levels you want, such as a single master versus a grand master with sub-masters.
  • Whether existing hardware is in good condition to rekey, or worn builder-grade knobs and deadbolts need replacing.
  • The type of keyway: standard keyways cost differently than restricted or patented keyways that limit unauthorized copying.
  • Door types and special hardware, such as storefront locks, gates, or security-barred doors that need specific cylinders.
  • How many keys you need cut, and whether you want extra control measures such as key records or stamped keys.

Why Lawndale chooses us

  • Fully mobile, 24/7: we come to the building, and there is no storefront to visit.
  • In business since 1987, with owner David Shar personally involved in the work.
  • We design from how your building is used, not from a one-size-fits-all package.
  • We are honest about hardware: if a lock is too worn to hold a good master system, we tell you rather than build on it.
  • Written keying plans, so the system stays manageable as tenants, staff, and doors change.
  • Experience with the mix of residential and light commercial buildings common in the South Bay.

Master Key System across Lawndale

Lawndale covers only about two square miles, but it packs in a lot of doors. Much of the city was built out after incorporation in 1959, with 1950s and 60s stucco single-family homes on small lots in areas like Lawndale Acres, and a heavy share of 1960s to 80s apartment buildings. That rental density is why master key systems make sense here: a landlord with a building near Inglewood Ave can have maintenance keyed alike, tenant units on individual keys, and a clean way to rekey after each move-out.

The Hawthorne Boulevard corridor (SR-107) is the city's main commercial strip, and small tenants there often face a different problem: an employee leaves and nobody is sure who still has a key. A restricted keyway with tracked keys helps a shop owner control who can copy and carry them. In El Camino Village and the blocks near Redondo Beach Blvd, Marine Ave, and Artesia Blvd, we see older hardware that has outlived its service life, which is often worth replacing as part of a system install.

Whether your property is in ZIP code 90260 or 90261, near the Lawndale Civic Center, Lawndale High School, or the edge of Alondra Park, we come to you. Call (323) 997-8867 any hour and we can start by talking through your doors and users.

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Other Lawndale locksmith services

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

Master Key System in Lawndale — FAQs

What is a master key system?
It is a keying design where each lock has its own key, but a higher-level master key opens a defined group of locks. It lets a landlord or manager carry one key while tenants and staff only open what they should.
Is a master key system a good fit for a Lawndale apartment building?
Often yes. With frequent move-outs, a system lets you rekey a unit without touching the others, while maintenance keys stay consistent. Call (323) 997-8867 and we can discuss your building.
What is the difference between keyed alike and master keyed?
Keyed alike means several locks open with the same single key. Master keyed means each lock has its own key, plus a master that opens many. Keyed alike suits maintenance doors; master keying suits tenant units.
What is a restricted key system?
It uses a keyway that is controlled, so duplicates generally cannot be cut without authorization. It is useful for small businesses on Hawthorne Blvd that want tighter control after staff changes.
Can you add doors to the system later?
Yes, if the system was planned with room to expand. That is why we document the keying plan up front. Reach us at (323) 997-8867 when you are ready to add openings.
Can you work with my existing locks?
Often, if the hardware is in good condition and compatible. Worn builder-grade knobs and deadbolts are better replaced so the system works reliably.
Do you have a shop I can visit?
No. We are fully mobile and come to your property in Lawndale, available 24/7.
How is the price determined?
By the number of doors, access levels, hardware condition, keyway type, and number of keys. We discuss these with you at the property, and there is no need to guess ahead of time.
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