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Crenshaw Lock

Broken Key Extraction in North Hollywood · 24/7 mobile

Broken Key Extraction in North Hollywood, CA

Crenshaw Lock Company provides mobile broken key extraction in North Hollywood, California, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. If a key has snapped in a door, deadbolt, or ignition, call (323) 997-8867 and we will come to you, remove the piece, and cut a working replacement.

  • Mobile to your North Hollywood 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 off in a lock always seems to happen at the worst moment: standing at your front door with groceries, closing up a shop on Lankershim, or trying to start the car before work. The good news is that a broken key is usually fixable without damaging the lock, as long as you resist the urge to dig at it with a paperclip, a knife tip, or a dab of glue. Those shortcuts tend to push the fragment deeper or jam the pins, and that turns a quick extraction into a lock replacement.

Crenshaw Lock Company has served Greater Los Angeles and Ventura County since 1987, and North Hollywood is the kind of place where the variety of locks keeps a technician sharp. Within a few blocks you can find original mortise locks in 1930s bungalows, tired wafer locks on 1960s and 70s dingbat apartments, and electronic fob and multipoint systems in newer buildings near the Metro station. Each one breaks keys in its own way, and each calls for a slightly different extraction approach.

We are fully mobile. There is no storefront to visit, so everything happens where you are: at your door, your office, your storefront, or your parked car. Owner and lead technician David Shar built the business on the idea that a stuck, stressed customer deserves a clear explanation and an honest recommendation, not a sales pitch. We remove the broken piece, check that the lock still works properly, and cut a new key so you are not left with a lock that functions only on borrowed time.

How it works in North Hollywood

  1. 1

    You call, we ask the right questions

    Call (323) 997-8867 any hour. We will ask what the key snapped in (front door, deadbolt, padlock, mailbox, or ignition), whether part of the key is still sticking out, and what kind of building you are in. That tells us which tools to bring and whether a replacement key can be cut on site.

  2. 2

    We come to your location

    Because we are fully mobile, the work happens at your door or vehicle, whether that is a bungalow near Magnolia Boulevard, an apartment off Vineland Avenue, or a shop on Lankershim. We will confirm who you are and that you are authorized to have the lock opened or serviced before starting.

  3. 3

    Inspect the lock and the fragment

    We look at how the key broke and how far the piece sits inside the cylinder. A clean snap at the shoulder is a different job from a fragment buried deep in a worn wafer lock. We also check for bent pins, wafers, or debris that may have contributed to the break.

  4. 4

    Extract the broken piece

    Using purpose-made extractors and fine picks, we draw the fragment out without forcing the cylinder. If the fragment is protruding, it can often be gripped directly. If it is lodged, we work it free carefully so the lock internals stay intact whenever possible.

  5. 5

    Cut a replacement key and test it

    Once the lock is clear, we cut a new key and test it repeatedly in the lock, checking for smooth turning and full bolt travel. For vehicles, we confirm the key works in the ignition and door. If the key you have is worn, we will tell you plainly, because a worn key is often why it broke.

  6. 6

    Recommend a rekey or repair only if it helps

    If the lock is damaged or so worn it will snap another key, we will explain your options, such as rekeying or replacing the cylinder. Nothing is done without your approval, and you decide what makes sense for your budget and security.

Need broken key extraction in North Hollywood?

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 door lock, deadbolt, padlock, or vehicle ignition each involve different tools and different levels of difficulty.
  • How deep the fragment sits and whether it is jammed against pins or wafers, which affects how much time and care extraction takes.
  • The condition of the lock itself, since an old worn wafer lock may need repair or replacement while a healthy cylinder can simply be cleared.
  • The type of replacement key needed, from a basic cut key to a transponder or high-security key that requires programming or special blanks.
  • The time of day and the location of the job, since we are available 24/7 and after-hours calls differ from daytime appointments.
  • Whether you also want a rekey, extra copies, or an upgrade, which are separate from the extraction and only done if you ask.

Why North Hollywood chooses us

  • Fully mobile, so we bring the extraction tools, key-cutting equipment, and common blanks to your door instead of asking you to go anywhere.
  • In business since 1987, with long experience on the older lock hardware you find in North Hollywood's 1920s to 40s bungalows and 1960s to 70s apartments.
  • Owner-led: David Shar stands behind the work, and you get plain explanations of what went wrong and what is actually needed.
  • We aim to save the lock whenever it is reasonable, and we say so honestly when a lock is too worn to be worth keeping.
  • Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, because keys do not break on a convenient schedule.
  • We cover homes, businesses, and vehicles, so one call handles a snapped house key, a storefront deadbolt, or a broken ignition key.

Broken Key Extraction across North Hollywood

North Hollywood has a wide mix of buildings, and broken keys show up differently in each. In the older streets of North Hollywood West and Toluca Woods, many 1920s to 40s Spanish and California bungalows still have their original mortise locks and skeleton-key interior doors. Those locks are sturdy, but decades of use and tarnished keys can lead to snapped bows and stuck fragments. Over in the dingbat apartment blocks off Vineland Avenue, aluminum entry doors with worn wafer locks are especially prone to snapping a tired key, and a tenant often needs extraction followed by a rekey.

Around the NoHo Arts District, along Lankershim and Magnolia Boulevards, businesses run on busy schedules, and aluminum-storefront doors take heavy daily use. A key that snaps in a front or back door during closing can hold up an entire night. Near the North Hollywood Metro Station, where the B Line ends and the G Line busway runs, newer mid-rise buildings often combine fob access with traditional multipoint locks, so a broken key may be just one piece of a larger system. We approach each of these with the right tools instead of a one-size-fits-all method.

We serve the neighborhoods across ZIP codes 91601, 91602, 91605, 91606, and 91607, and we can reach you whether you are near the El Portal Theatre, close to the Television Academy, or just off the Ventura Freeway (US-101) or the Hollywood Freeway (SR-170). Call (323) 997-8867 and we will 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 Hollywood locksmith services

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

Broken Key Extraction in North Hollywood — FAQs

What should I do right after a key breaks in the lock?
Stop turning the key and do not try to pry the piece out with improvised tools or add glue or lubricant. If part of the key is sticking out, leave it alone. Call (323) 997-8867 and we can advise you and come to your North Hollywood location.
Can you remove a broken key without damaging the lock?
In most cases yes. We use fine extractors and picks designed for this job. If the lock is very worn or already damaged inside, we will tell you honestly whether it can be saved or whether a rekey or replacement makes more sense.
Do you work on broken keys in car ignitions?
Yes. We handle broken keys in vehicle doors and ignitions, and we can cut a replacement, including transponder keys that need programming, depending on the vehicle. Call (323) 997-8867 with your make, model, and year.
Will I get a new key after the extraction?
Yes. Extraction is paired with cutting a replacement so you can use the lock again. We test the new key several times before we finish, and we can make extra copies if you want them.
Why did my key break in the first place?
Common causes include a worn or bent key, a lock that has become stiff from age or debris, and forcing a key that was binding. Older wafer locks in 1960s and 70s apartments and aged mortise locks in 1930s bungalows are especially prone to this.
Do you come out at night and on weekends?
Yes. We are available 24/7, including nights, weekends, and holidays, and we are fully mobile, so we come to you. Call (323) 997-8867 at any hour.
Should I rekey after a broken key?
Not always, but it is worth considering if the lock is worn or if the broken key was an old copy that other people may hold. A rekey makes old keys useless, and we can do it at the same visit if you want.
Can you help a business with a broken key in a storefront or back door?
Yes. We work on aluminum storefront doors, back-of-house locks, and exit hardware common along Lankershim and Magnolia. We can extract the key, cut a replacement, and discuss rekeying or master keying if staff changes are a concern.
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