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(323) 997-8867
Crenshaw Lock

Broken Key Extraction in Los Angeles · 24/7 mobile

Broken Key Extraction in Los Angeles

Snapped a key in a door lock, padlock, or car ignition in Los Angeles? Crenshaw Lock Company provides 24/7 mobile broken key extraction across the city, from Leimert Park to Hollywood. We remove the broken piece without damaging the lock and cut a working replacement on site. Call (323) 997-8867 any hour.

  • Mobile to your Los Angeles 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
Open now(323) 997-8867

A broken key is one of those small problems that stops everything. Half the key is in your hand, the other half is wedged inside the cylinder, and the door, gate, or car you need to get into is still locked. The worst thing to do at that point is keep pushing; forcing a second key in, jabbing with a bobby pin, or squirting glue usually drives the fragment deeper or ruins the pins, which turns a simple extraction into a lock replacement.

Crenshaw Lock Company has been handling this exact situation in Los Angeles since 1987. We are fully mobile, so we come to the lock, whether it is a front door on a Craftsman bungalow in West Adams, a mailbox in a Koreatown apartment building, a padlock on a Downtown roll-up gate, or the ignition of a car parked on Crenshaw Blvd. Owner and lead technician David Shar built the business around doing careful work on older and newer hardware alike.

Our goal is simple: get the broken piece out cleanly, confirm the lock still works properly, and leave you with a new key that turns smoothly. If the lock itself turns out to be worn or damaged, we will tell you plainly and give you options rather than just swapping parts.

How it works in Los Angeles

  1. 1

    Tell us what broke and where

    When you call (323) 997-8867, we ask what kind of lock it is (deadbolt, knob, mortise, padlock, car door, or ignition), whether any of the key is still sticking out, and whether the door is locked or unlocked. That helps us bring the right extractors and key blanks to your address.

  2. 2

    Assess the cylinder before touching it

    On arrival we look at how deep the fragment sits, which way the keyway is cut, and whether the plug is in the locked or unlocked position. Older Los Angeles homes often have original mortise cylinders, and these need a gentler approach than a modern deadbolt.

  3. 3

    Extract the broken piece

    Using thin hooked and spiral extraction tools, we catch the cuts of the key and draw the fragment out along the keyway. If the plug has to be rotated back to center first, we do that carefully. In tougher cases we may remove the cylinder from the door to work on it directly.

  4. 4

    Check the lock for damage

    Once the piece is out, we inspect the pins and plug. A key often snaps because the lock was already binding, so we test it, lubricate it appropriately, and let you know if something inside is worn.

  5. 5

    Cut a replacement key on site

    We can cut a new key from the broken pieces or by decoding the lock, right from our mobile setup. We test the new key in the lock several times so you are not left with a copy that sticks.

  6. 6

    Repair, rekey, or replace if needed

    If the cylinder is too worn to trust, we can rekey or replace it on the same visit. For car ignitions, we discuss whether the cylinder or key needs further work. You decide after hearing the options.

Need broken key extraction in Los Angeles?

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

Call (323) 997-8867

What affects the price

  • Type of lock: a residential deadbolt or padlock is usually simpler than a vehicle ignition, high-security cylinder, or original mortise lock.
  • How deep and how tightly the fragment is lodged, and whether earlier attempts with glue or tools have pushed it further in.
  • Whether the cylinder must be removed from the door or vehicle to complete the extraction.
  • The kind of replacement key needed, from a standard house key to a vehicle key that may require transponder programming.
  • Whether the lock is damaged and needs rekeying, repair, or replacement after extraction.
  • Time of day and location of the call, since late-night and holiday service is part of our 24/7 coverage.

Why Los Angeles chooses us

  • Fully mobile service: we come to your home, business, or car anywhere in our Los Angeles service area, so there is no need to tow a car or leave a door unsecured.
  • Experience with older LA hardware, including original 1920s mortise locks and skeleton-key interior doors common in Leimert Park, West Adams, and nearby neighborhoods.
  • Extraction first, replacement second: we aim to save your existing lock when it is sound instead of defaulting to selling new hardware.
  • Replacement keys cut on site and tested before we leave, so the job ends with a working key in your hand.
  • Locally owned since 1987, with owner David Shar as lead technician and an honest explanation of options before any extra work.
  • Available 24/7, which matters when a key breaks in a gate, a business door at closing time, or an ignition late at night.

Broken Key Extraction across Los Angeles

Our home base is in the 90008 area around Baldwin Hills and Leimert Park, and a lot of our broken-key calls come from right here. Many homes near Leimert Park Village and in the View Park-Windsor Hills historic district still use original mortise locks from the 1920s through 1940s. Those cylinders work well when cared for, but decades of wear mean keys can twist and snap inside them. We see this often in Craftsman duplexes off Crenshaw Blvd and Spanish Colonial bungalows near Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, and we take the extra care those older locks need. Wrought-iron security screen doors with keyed cylinders, common across South LA, are another frequent spot for snapped keys, especially when the door has sagged and the lock is binding.

Vehicle calls are just as common. A key that snaps in a car door or ignition in the Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza parking structure, near Exposition Park and USC on a game day at the LA Memorial Coliseum, or along Slauson Ave or La Brea Ave is something we can handle where the car sits. Being mobile also means apartment residents in Koreatown (90006), West Adams (90016, 90018), and Mid-City (90019) do not have to leave a broken mailbox or unit lock to visit a shop.

We also travel across the city via the I-10 and I-110 to Hollywood (90046, 90027), Echo Park (90026), and Downtown (90012) near Union Station and Walt Disney Concert Hall, where commercial padlocks, roll-up gates, and building entry locks are common sources of broken keys. Wherever you are in our Los Angeles coverage area, the approach is the same: careful extraction, an honest check of the lock, and a fresh key cut on site.

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 Los Angeles locksmith services

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

Broken Key Extraction in Los Angeles — FAQs

Can I pull a broken key out myself?
If a good portion of the key is sticking out, you can sometimes grip it with needle-nose pliers and pull straight out without twisting. If it is flush or recessed, stop there. Pushing tools in, using a second key, or applying glue usually makes extraction harder and can damage the pins. Call (323) 997-8867 and we will come to you.
Will my lock need to be replaced after a key breaks in it?
Often it does not. Many locks work fine once the fragment is removed. We test the cylinder after extraction, and if it is worn or binding, which is sometimes why the key snapped, we explain whether a cleaning, rekey, or replacement makes sense.
Do you extract broken keys from car ignitions in Los Angeles?
Yes. We handle broken keys in car doors, trunks, and ignitions at your vehicle's location, whether it is in a driveway in View Park, a parking structure at Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza, or a street in Koreatown. Some modern keys need transponder programming for the replacement, which we discuss with you. Call (323) 997-8867 to describe your vehicle.
I have an old 1920s mortise lock. Can you still get the key out?
Yes. Original mortise locks are common in Leimert Park, West Adams, and Baldwin Hills homes, and we work on them regularly. They call for a gentler approach, and in some cases we remove the cylinder to work on it. We can usually cut a matching key afterward.
How much does broken key extraction cost?
It depends on the lock type, how deep the fragment is lodged, whether the cylinder has to be removed, what kind of replacement key you need, and the time of the call. We explain the factors when you call (323) 997-8867 and confirm before starting work.
Are you available at night or on weekends?
Yes. We operate 24/7, including nights, weekends, and holidays. Because we are fully mobile, we come to your home, business, or car anywhere in our Los Angeles service area.
Can you make a new key from the broken pieces?
In many cases, yes. If both pieces are intact enough, we can read the cuts and duplicate the key. If not, we can decode the lock or rekey it and cut new keys on site, testing them before we leave.
Do you have a shop I can bring my lock to?
No. Crenshaw Lock Company is a mobile-only locksmith with no storefront. We bring our tools and key-cutting equipment to you, which is usually easier anyway when a door, gate, or car will not open.
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