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Crenshaw Lock

Master Key System in Pasadena · 24/7 mobile

Master Key System in Pasadena, California

Crenshaw Lock Company designs and installs master key systems and restricted-key systems with key control for Pasadena properties. We are fully mobile and available 24/7, coming to your building to plan, pin and install. Call (323) 997-8867 to talk through your doors and who needs access to them.

  • Mobile to your Pasadena location
  • Available 24/7
  • Price quoted before we start
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A master key system lets the right people open the right doors with as few keys as possible. A property manager carries one key for every unit, a tenant opens only their own door, and a maintenance crew reaches the utility rooms and nothing else. Done well, it replaces a jangling ring of keys and a tangle of guesswork with a clear structure you can explain on one page.

Pasadena has a wide mix of buildings that benefit from this. There are mid-century apartment courts near PCC and Caltech, aluminum-storefront retail along Colorado Blvd and Lake Ave, offices and clinics, and older multi-unit properties that have collected years of mismatched locks and unaccounted-for keys. Each of those calls for a different system design, and the lock hardware already on the doors shapes what is practical.

Crenshaw Lock Company has served Greater Los Angeles and Ventura County since 1987, led by owner and lead technician David Shar. We are mobile only, with no storefront to visit. We come to your property, look at the doors, talk through how your people actually use them, and build a system around that. Restricted keyways and key control are available when you want to stop casual duplication of keys.

How it works in Pasadena

  1. 1

    Walk the property and list the doors

    We start by going through your building with you, door by door. We note the type of lock on each, the condition of the doors and frames, and which are exterior, interior, shared, or private. Aluminum storefront doors, wood apartment doors and gate hardware each have their own constraints.

  2. 2

    Map out who needs access to what

    Next we sort out the hierarchy. That might be a master key for the owner, a sub-master for a manager or building section, and individual keys for each tenant or employee. We keep the structure only as complex as you need, because every added level adds some security tradeoff.

  3. 3

    Choose the hardware and key control level

    We recommend whether to keep existing locks and rekey them or replace cylinders and hardware that cannot support a master system. You also decide between standard keyways and a restricted keyway, where blanks and duplication are controlled so keys cannot simply be copied at a hardware store.

  4. 4

    Pin, install and test every lock

    We build the cylinders to the plan, install them on site, and test each key against each lock, including confirming that a key does not open doors it should not. Any door with a sticking latch or misaligned strike gets flagged so the new cylinder is not blamed for an older problem.

  5. 5

    Deliver the keys and the records

    You receive the keys organized by level, along with a clear record of the system layout. We go over how to authorize new keys, what to do when someone leaves, and how to handle a lost master so you can respond calmly if it happens.

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What affects the price

  • The number of doors and cylinders in the system, since each lock must be pinned and tested to the plan.
  • How many levels the hierarchy has, such as master, sub-master and individual keys, which affects how the cylinders are built.
  • Whether existing hardware can be rekeyed into the system or some locks need to be replaced because they cannot accept a master configuration.
  • The key control level you choose, including restricted keyways and the number of keys cut for each level.
  • Door and hardware types, from aluminum storefront cylinders to older mortise or rim locks, which change the labor and parts involved.
  • Whether you need the work scheduled in advance or at an unusual hour, such as after a business closes.

Why Pasadena chooses us

  • We are fully mobile and available 24/7, so installation can happen at your property, including after hours if you cannot have doors disrupted during business.
  • We have been working in the Greater Los Angeles area since 1987, which means we have seen a lot of old buildings with mismatched, partly rekeyed hardware.
  • We design around how your people actually move through the building rather than pushing the most complex system on every property.
  • We tell you honestly when a master system is more than you need and a simple rekey would do, and when security tradeoffs of added levels matter.
  • You work with the owner-led team, with David Shar leading the work, not a call center passing along a job.
  • We test every key against every lock before we leave, so problems show up while we are still on site.

Master Key System across Pasadena

Pasadena properties tend to need master key work for very different reasons. In Old Pasadena and along Colorado Blvd, retailers and restaurants often have aluminum-frame glass doors, back-of-house rooms and storage that should be reachable by a manager but not every employee. Along Lake Ave and around the Playhouse District, small offices and clinics have similar needs, with shared suites and common-area doors that a master structure can organize in 91101 and 91103.

Residential rentals are another strong fit. Mid-century apartment courts near PCC and Caltech, and multi-unit buildings in neighborhoods like Madison Heights and Garfield Heights, often have years of tenant turnover and keys no one can fully account for. A master system lets a landlord enter for maintenance and emergencies while each tenant keeps a private key, and it makes it far easier to re-secure a unit when someone moves out. We work in ZIP codes including 91104, 91105, 91106 and 91107, as well as the 91101 and 91103 areas near downtown.

Older buildings need extra care. In places like Bungalow Heaven, original mortise and rim locks with brass hardware can be rekeyed instead of replaced, and we look at what the existing hardware allows before recommending changes. Larger properties such as those in Hastings Ranch or near the Rose Bowl, Huntington Hospital or the Norton Simon Museum area may combine several building types, and we plan around that. Since we are mobile, we reach you from I-210, SR-134 or I-110 without you visiting a shop.

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Other Pasadena locksmith services

See all of our Pasadena services, or our citywide master key system page.

Master Key System in Pasadena — FAQs

What is a master key system?
It is a lock arrangement where each lock has its own key, but a higher-level key can also open a group of locks or all of them. A Pasadena landlord might have a master that opens every unit while each tenant's key opens only their own door. Call (323) 997-8867 to discuss your layout.
Can you set one up for an apartment court near PCC or Caltech?
Yes. Multi-unit properties are a common use. We can structure it so tenants have private keys, managers have access to the units, and maintenance has only the shared areas. We look at the existing locks first to see what can be rekeyed.
Will my existing locks work in a master key system?
Often they can be rekeyed into one, depending on the cylinder type and condition. Some older or low-quality hardware cannot support a master configuration and would need new cylinders. We check this during the walkthrough before recommending anything.
What is a restricted keyway and do I need one?
A restricted keyway uses key blanks that are not freely sold, so copying keys requires authorization. It is useful when you want real key control, such as for a business with sensitive areas. If you only need organization, a standard system may be enough.
Can you work on Old Pasadena storefronts with aluminum doors?
Yes. Aluminum-frame glass doors use specific cylinders and hardware, and we can integrate them into a system with back-of-house and office doors. If a cylinder is failing, it is better to address that as part of the plan.
Can the installation be done outside business hours?
Yes. We are mobile and available 24/7, so we can schedule work after you close or at another time that suits your operation. Call (323) 997-8867 to arrange it.
What happens if a master key is lost?
It is a serious situation because the key may open many doors. Depending on the system, the affected locks may need to be rekeyed or the system reconfigured. We explain this plan when we deliver the keys so you know how to respond.
Do I have to visit your shop?
No. Crenshaw Lock Company is mobile only and has no storefront. We come to your Pasadena property for the walkthrough and installation.
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