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Crenshaw Lock

Broken Key Extraction in Pacoima · 24/7 mobile

Broken Key Extraction in Pacoima, California

Crenshaw Lock Company provides mobile broken key extraction in Pacoima, California, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. If a key has snapped in a door, padlock, gate or ignition, call (323) 997-8867. We come to you, remove the fragment and cut a working replacement.

  • Mobile to your Pacoima 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 the lock almost always happens at a bad moment: early in the morning before a shift, late at night at a gate, or in a van loaded with tools. In Pacoima, where so many people rely on a single vehicle or a single set of keys for work, a broken key can stall a whole day. Crenshaw Lock Company has served Greater Los Angeles and Ventura County since 1987, and broken key extraction is routine work for us.

We are fully mobile. There is no storefront to drive to, and you should not try to drive anywhere with a half-snapped key in an ignition. We bring the extraction tools and key-cutting equipment to your home, shop, yard or vehicle, whether you are off San Fernando Road, along Van Nuys Boulevard, or tucked into a quiet street in Hansen Hills.

The goal is simple: get the broken piece out without damaging the lock if at all possible, then make you a new key that works smoothly. Pacoima has a lot of older hardware and a lot of hard-working locks, and worn keys are the usual reason they snap. We will tell you honestly whether the lock is fine to keep using or is due for replacement.

How it works in Pacoima

  1. 1

    You call, we ask the right questions

    Call (323) 997-8867 any hour. We ask what the lock is (front door, deadbolt, padlock, roll-up gate, car door or ignition), how much of the key is still sticking out, and whether the lock still turns at all. That tells us which tools to bring.

  2. 2

    We come to you

    Because we are fully mobile, the work happens where the problem is: a house door behind a security screen, a padlocked yard gate, or a van parked at a job site. We make no promises on timing over the phone, but we are available around the clock.

  3. 3

    Assess the lock and the break

    We look at where the key snapped, whether the fragment is flush or protruding, and the condition of the lock. Debris, a bent key or a worn cylinder can change our approach, so we check before pulling anything.

  4. 4

    Extract the fragment

    Using specialized extractors and fine tools, we remove the broken piece carefully to avoid scarring the pins or the ignition wafers. If part of the key is still visible, it can sometimes be gripped directly. Deeper breaks take more patience.

  5. 5

    Cut and test a replacement key

    Once the lock is clear, we cut a new key by code or from the lock itself, or duplicate from the broken halves if they are usable. For vehicles with transponder keys, we can discuss programming. We test the key repeatedly in the lock.

  6. 6

    Check the lock and advise

    If the lock is damaged or sticky, we say so plainly and explain the options: lubricate, rekey, repair or replace. You decide. For commercial doors and gates, we can also talk about hardened hardware.

Need broken key extraction in Pacoima?

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 standard house deadbolt, a hardened padlock, a roll-up gate lock and a vehicle ignition each take different tools and time.
  • How the key broke: a fragment sitting at the surface is a simpler job than one lodged deep in the cylinder or jammed against the pins.
  • Whether the lock survives extraction undamaged or needs repair, rekeying or replacement afterward.
  • The kind of replacement key needed: a basic cut key, a high-security key, or a transponder key that must be programmed to a vehicle.
  • Time of day and location of the call, since we serve nights, weekends and holidays and travel to you.
  • How many locks or keys are involved, for example several padlocks on a yard or multiple vehicles in a fleet.

Why Pacoima chooses us

  • Fully mobile service: we do the extraction on site, so you never have to carry a broken lock or a stuck car anywhere.
  • In business since 1987, with owner and lead technician David Shar standing behind the work.
  • Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, which matters when a key breaks before dawn or after a late shift.
  • We try to save the lock first. Replacement is recommended only when the cylinder is actually damaged or worn out.
  • Comfortable with both residential and commercial work, from old homes with security bars and screen doors to padlocked yard gates and warehouse man-doors.
  • Extraction and replacement key cutting in the same visit, so you are not left with a clear lock and no way to use it.

Broken Key Extraction across Pacoima

Pacoima's housing and workplaces put a particular kind of wear on locks. Many homes in Hansen Hills and the streets around Ritchie Valens Recreation Center & Park are modest 1940s and 1950s wood-frame or stucco houses, often with security bars, screen doors and gates layered in front of the original door. Pushing a tired key through several of those locks every day is a common way for one to snap, especially in a 91331 neighborhood where the hardware has been in use for decades. When we are called to one of these homes, we can extract the key and, if you want, talk about adding a sturdier deadbolt behind the existing bars.

The working side of Pacoima is just as busy. Along San Fernando Road and through the industrial corridor, auto-repair shops, warehouses and yards depend on padlocks, roll-up doors and man-doors that get opened and closed constantly. A key that breaks in a gate padlock can hold up a whole crew. We also help tradespeople and vendors who run vans out of Pacoima, where a snapped key in an ignition or door lock has to be dealt with quickly and replaced with a key that works. Call from 91333 or 91334 and the process is the same: we come to you.

Whether you are near the Van Nuys Boulevard murals, close to Whiteman Airport, by Hubert H. Humphrey Memorial Park, in San Fernando Gardens, or just off Glenoaks Boulevard, Laurel Canyon Boulevard or the I-5, call (323) 997-8867 and we will talk through what happened and get a technician headed your way.

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 Pacoima locksmith services

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

Broken Key Extraction in Pacoima — FAQs

Can you really get a broken key out without replacing my lock?
In most cases, yes. If the lock itself is in good shape, we extract the fragment with specialized tools and cut a new key. If the cylinder is worn or damaged, we will tell you honestly and offer options. Call (323) 997-8867 to describe the situation.
Should I try to pull the broken key out myself?
It is best not to. Pliers, glue or a knife blade often push the piece deeper or damage the pins. If a bit of the key is visible, stop there and call us instead. We can often save the lock if it has not been forced.
Do you handle broken keys in car ignitions in Pacoima?
Yes. We extract broken keys from ignitions and door locks and can cut a replacement. For transponder keys, ask us about programming. Because we are mobile, we come to wherever the vehicle is parked, at home or at a job site.
Can you help with a broken key in a padlock on a yard or warehouse gate?
Yes. Padlocked gates, roll-up doors and man-doors are common in the San Fernando Road industrial corridor. We can extract the key, and if you want, discuss rekeying or fitting hardened padlocks for better security.
Will you make a new key at the same visit?
Generally yes. After extraction we cut a replacement, either from the broken pieces if they are usable or by working from the lock. We test it before we leave so it turns smoothly.
Do I need to come to a shop?
No. Crenshaw Lock Company is fully mobile with no storefront to visit. We bring everything to you in Pacoima, whether that is a house, a business or a parked vehicle.
Is broken key extraction available at night and on weekends?
Yes, we work 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Call (323) 997-8867 any time and we will talk through the problem and arrange service.
Why do keys break in older locks?
Wear is the main cause. Keys that have been copied many times, bent, or used in dirty or stiff locks are weaker, and older hardware behind security bars or screen doors gets a lot of use. If your key feels rough, have it replaced before it snaps.
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