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(323) 997-8867
Crenshaw Lock

Broken Key Extraction in North Hills · 24/7 mobile

Broken Key Extraction in North Hills, CA

Crenshaw Lock Company provides broken key extraction in North Hills, California, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Our fully mobile technician comes to your door, car, or business, removes the snapped key piece, and cuts a replacement. Call (323) 997-8867.

  • Mobile to your North Hills 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 those problems that feels small until you are standing outside with half a key in your hand. In North Hills it tends to happen at ordinary moments: leaving a garden-apartment unit in the morning, coming home to a 1960s tract house after a long shift, or locking up a shop on Nordhoff Street at closing time. Metal fatigue, a worn key copied from a copy, or a lock that has been sticking for months are the usual causes.

The most important thing is not to force it. Pushing a second key in, twisting with pliers, or reaching for superglue and tweezers can drive the broken piece deeper, bend the pins, or damage the cylinder. A piece that is still sticking out can often come out cleanly with the right tools. A piece that is deep inside needs a more careful approach, and that is where experience matters.

Crenshaw Lock Company has served Greater Los Angeles and Ventura County since 1987, and owner and lead technician David Shar built the business around mobile service. There is no storefront to drive to. We come to you in North Hills, extract the broken key, check that the lock still works properly, and cut a new key on site so you are not left with a lock that only half works.

How it works in North Hills

  1. 1

    Call and describe what happened

    Phone (323) 997-8867 any hour. Tell us whether the key broke in a front door, a deadbolt, a padlock, a mailbox, or a car ignition, and whether any of the key is still visible. That helps us bring the right extraction tools and key blanks.

  2. 2

    We come to you

    Our service is fully mobile, so the work happens where the lock is: at your North Hills home, apartment unit, storefront, or vehicle. Please do not try to remove the piece yourself while you wait.

  3. 3

    Assess the lock and the break

    We look at how the key broke, how much is left, and what type of lock it is. A standard house cylinder, a security-screen-door lock, an aluminum-storefront deadlatch, and a car ignition each call for a different approach.

  4. 4

    Extract the broken piece

    Using purpose-made extractors and fine tools, we work the fragment out without damaging the pins or the cylinder wherever possible. If the lock is already worn or damaged, we will explain that before going further.

  5. 5

    Cut a replacement key

    Once the lock is clear, we cut a working key so you can lock and unlock normally again. Where it makes sense, we can also cut a spare so the same thing does not leave you stranded twice.

  6. 6

    Test and recommend

    We test the lock with the new key several times. If the cylinder is badly worn, we will tell you honestly whether it is worth replacing or rekeying, and the decision stays yours.

Need broken key extraction in North Hills?

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

Call (323) 997-8867

What affects the price

  • Where the key is broken: a front-door deadbolt, a car ignition, a padlock, and a commercial door lock each involve different tools and different amounts of work.
  • How deep the fragment sits: a piece sticking out of the keyway is usually simpler than one lodged deep behind the pins.
  • Whether the lock is damaged: if the cylinder is worn or bent, repair or replacement may be recommended in addition to extraction.
  • Type of replacement key needed: a basic mechanical key differs from a transponder or high-security key for a vehicle, which may need programming.
  • Time of day and urgency: nights, weekends, and holidays are part of our 24/7 service and can affect the quote.
  • Extra work requested at the same visit, such as rekeying, spare keys, or replacing a worn security-screen-door lock.

Why North Hills chooses us

  • Fully mobile and available 24/7, so a snapped key at night or on a weekend is not a wait-until-Monday problem.
  • Serving Greater Los Angeles and Ventura County since 1987, with the owner, David Shar, leading the work.
  • We extract first and replace second, so you keep your existing lock whenever it is still in good condition.
  • We cut the replacement key on site, which saves you a trip to a hardware store with a broken key in your pocket.
  • We are comfortable with the local mix of locks: residential deadbolts, security-screen-door hardware, cluster-box mailbox locks, and Adams Rite-style storefront hardware.
  • We tell you plainly if a lock should be rekeyed or replaced rather than pushing an upsell.

Broken Key Extraction across North Hills

North Hills is split into two quite different lock environments. North Hills West is mostly 1950s and 60s single-family tract homes, where a broken key often involves a tired deadbolt or a worn security-screen-door lock that has been sticking for years. We have handled situations where a lockout and a worn screen-door lock were solved in the same visit, because a key that is hard to turn is often the one that snaps next.

North Hills East is denser, with many 1960s and 70s dingbat and garden-apartment buildings and higher tenant turnover. Keys there are copied again and again, and each copy of a copy is a little weaker, which is a common reason one snaps in a unit door or mailbox. If a broken key is a sign that locks in a complex need attention, we can also discuss rekeying units or setting up a master-key system.

We work throughout ZIP code 91343, from homes near North Hills Community Park to businesses along Nordhoff Street, Roscoe Boulevard, and Sepulveda Boulevard, where aluminum-frame glass doors with Adams Rite-style deadlatches are common. We also serve drivers dealing with a key broken in an ignition near the I-405, the Sepulveda Basin Recreation Area, or the VA Sepulveda Ambulatory Care Center. Wherever you are in North Hills, we come to you.

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 North Hills locksmith services

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

Broken Key Extraction in North Hills — FAQs

What should I do right after my key breaks in the lock?
Stop and do not force anything. Do not try to turn the piece with pliers or insert another key. Call (323) 997-8867 and we will tell you what to do next and come to you.
Can you remove a broken key from a car ignition in North Hills?
Yes. Our mobile service covers vehicles as well as homes and businesses. We extract the fragment and can cut a replacement key. Call (323) 997-8867 and tell us the make, model, and year.
Will extracting the key damage my lock?
The goal is to remove it without harming the cylinder, and most of the time that is achievable. If the lock was already worn or bent, we will explain what we see and what your options are.
Do you offer broken key extraction at night or on weekends?
Yes. We operate 24/7 and are fully mobile, including nights, weekends, and holidays. Call (323) 997-8867 at any hour.
Can you help if the key broke in an apartment door in North Hills East?
Yes. We handle unit doors, deadbolts, and mailbox locks. We recommend contacting your landlord or property manager where required, and we can discuss rekeying if the building has had tenant turnover.
Can you fix a storefront door on Nordhoff or Roscoe after a key breaks?
Yes. We work on aluminum-frame glass doors and Adams Rite-style deadlatches and can extract the key, test the hardware, and rekey or replace it if needed.
Do you cut the new key at the same visit?
In most cases, yes. Once the broken piece is out, we cut a working key on site. Some vehicle keys need programming, which we will explain when you call.
Is there a shop I can come to?
No. Crenshaw Lock Company is mobile only, so there is no storefront. We travel to your location in North Hills and the surrounding area.
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