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Crenshaw Lock

Broken Key Extraction in Pasadena · 24/7 mobile

Broken Key Extraction in Pasadena, California

Crenshaw Lock Company provides broken key extraction in Pasadena, California, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. If a key has snapped in a door lock, padlock, or ignition, our mobile technician comes to you, removes the piece, and cuts a replacement. Call (323) 997-8867.

  • Mobile to your Pasadena location
  • Available 24/7
  • Price quoted before we start
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Broken key stuck in a lock cylinder next to an extractor tool
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A snapped key always seems to happen at the worst moment: a Craftsman front door at the end of a long day, an aluminum storefront door before opening, or a car ignition in a parking structure near the Rose Bowl. The good news is that a broken key is usually a fixable problem, and in most cases the lock itself can be saved. The key is to resist the urge to keep forcing it.

Crenshaw Lock Company has served Greater Los Angeles and Ventura County since 1987, and owner and lead technician David Shar built the business around being fully mobile. We have no storefront for you to visit. We bring the tools to your door in Pasadena, any hour of the day or night, and do the work on site.

Broken key extraction is different from a basic lockout. The fragment may sit flush with the face of the cylinder, deep inside the pin chamber, or jammed in a worn old mortise lock. Each situation calls for a different approach, and the goal is always the same: get the piece out cleanly, confirm the lock still works, and give you a working key again so you are not stuck with a spare that is barely holding together.

How it works in Pasadena

  1. 1

    Call and describe what happened

    Call (323) 997-8867 and tell us where the key broke: a front door, a deadbolt, a padlock, a mailbox, a storefront cylinder, or a car ignition. Tell us whether part of the key is still sticking out. That helps us bring the right extraction tools and blanks.

  2. 2

    Stop forcing it and keep the pieces

    Please do not push the fragment deeper or try to pry it with a knife or screwdriver. Keep every piece of the broken key you have. The broken half is often useful for matching the cut pattern, and the part left in the lock tells us how deep the problem goes.

  3. 3

    Assess the lock and the fragment

    On arrival we look at the lock type, its condition, and how the key broke. A modern deadbolt in a mid-century apartment court is a different job from an aging mortise lock on a 1920s bungalow, where we take extra care to protect original brass hardware.

  4. 4

    Extract the broken piece

    Using purpose-made extractors and fine tools, we draw the fragment out without scarring the keyway or damaging the pins. If a cylinder has to be partly disassembled to reach the piece, we do that carefully and reassemble it so it operates properly.

  5. 5

    Cut a replacement key

    Once the piece is out, we cut a new working key, either from the recovered halves or by decoding the lock. Because we are mobile, key cutting happens on site, so you leave the job with a key that actually turns smoothly.

  6. 6

    Test and recommend next steps

    We test the lock and new key several times. If the cylinder is worn, which is often why keys snap, we explain the options, such as rekeying or replacing the cylinder. The decision is yours, and we will tell you plainly if the lock is fine as it is.

Need broken key extraction in Pasadena?

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

Call (323) 997-8867

What affects the price

  • How deep the broken fragment sits in the keyway, since a piece flush with the face is simpler than one lodged far inside the cylinder.
  • The type of lock involved, such as a standard residential deadbolt, an antique mortise lock, a commercial storefront cylinder, a padlock, or a vehicle ignition.
  • Whether the lock can be saved or the cylinder is too worn or damaged and needs to be replaced or rekeyed.
  • The kind of replacement key needed, from a basic house key to a high-security key or transponder car key that requires programming.
  • The time of day and the location of the call, since after-hours and late-night service involves different logistics than a daytime appointment.
  • Whether additional work is requested at the same visit, such as rekeying the lock or adding a new deadbolt.

Why Pasadena chooses us

  • Fully mobile, 24/7 service: the technician comes to your Pasadena address, and there is no shop to drive to with a stuck lock.
  • Serving the region since 1987, with owner David Shar leading the work, so the experience behind each extraction is real and not a gimmick.
  • Extraction and replacement in one visit: we remove the broken piece and cut the new key on site rather than leaving you with half a solution.
  • Care with older hardware: Pasadena has many Craftsman homes with period mortise locks and brass escutcheons, and we work to preserve them rather than defaulting to replacement.
  • Honest recommendations: if the lock is worn and likely to snap another key, we say so, and if it is fine, we say that too.
  • Coverage across home, business, and vehicle locks, so a snapped key in an ignition or a storefront cylinder gets the same attention as a front door.

Broken Key Extraction across Pasadena

Pasadena's housing makes broken keys a more common call than many people expect. In Bungalow Heaven and Garfield Heights, many homes date to the early 1900s through the 1930s, and original rim locks and mortise sets can have decades of wear inside them. A worn lock and a thin old key are a recipe for a snap. In those districts we focus on getting the fragment out without harming the antique brass hardware, and on keeping the original look intact where it matters.

Farther along the commercial corridors, the picture changes. Around Old Pasadena and the Playhouse District, retailers along Colorado Boulevard and Lake Avenue often have aluminum-frame glass doors with narrow cylinders that take a lot of daily use. A key that breaks before opening is a real problem, so fast, on-site extraction and a fresh key matter. Near Caltech and PCC, apartment courts in ZIP codes like 91106 and 91101 see after-hours calls from tenants whose key snapped in a deadbolt late at night. In Madison Heights, larger 1910s and 1920s estates may have heavier, older hardware that deserves careful handling.

We serve Pasadena from the foothill neighborhoods of Hastings Ranch in 91107 to the areas near the Rose Bowl, Huntington Hospital, and the Norton Simon Museum, with easy access along the I-210, SR-134, and I-110 corridors. Wherever you are in town, 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.

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Other Pasadena locksmith services

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

Broken Key Extraction in Pasadena — FAQs

What should I do right after a key breaks in my lock?
Stop turning or forcing it, and do not try to pull the piece out with pliers or a knife, which can push it deeper. Keep all pieces of the key and call (323) 997-8867. A mobile technician can usually extract it without harming the lock.
Can you extract a broken key from an old Craftsman door lock?
Yes. Many Pasadena bungalows have original mortise or rim locks, and we work carefully to protect the brass hardware and the door. If the lock is simply worn, we can often keep it working and cut a new key.
Do you also make the replacement key?
Yes. After extracting the fragment, we cut a new working key on site. That means you are not left with only a broken key or a poorly fitting copy.
Can you help if a key broke in my car ignition?
Yes. We handle broken keys in vehicle ignitions and doors across Pasadena. Tell us the make, model, and year when you call (323) 997-8867 so we can bring suitable key blanks and tools.
Do you come out at night or on weekends?
Yes. We are available 24/7 and fully mobile, so late nights, weekends, and holidays are covered. We do not give arrival-time promises, but we will tell you what to expect when you call.
Will the lock still work after the key is removed?
Often, yes. We test it after extraction. If the cylinder is worn or damaged, we explain whether rekeying or replacing it makes sense, and you decide.
My storefront key broke on Colorado Boulevard. Can you help before we open?
Yes. We serve businesses in Old Pasadena and along Lake Avenue, and a broken key in an aluminum-frame door cylinder is something we handle on site. Call (323) 997-8867 and explain the situation.
How is the price determined?
It depends on factors like how deep the fragment is, the type of lock, the replacement key required, the time of day, and whether the cylinder can be saved. We will walk you through the situation and options before starting work.
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