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Crenshaw Lock

Broken Key Extraction in San Marino · 24/7 mobile

Broken Key Extraction in San Marino, CA

Crenshaw Lock Company provides 24/7 mobile broken key extraction in San Marino, California. If a key has snapped in a door, gate, or ignition, we come to you, remove the fragment, and cut a working replacement. Call us any time at (323) 997-8867.

  • Mobile to your San Marino 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 is one of the more frustrating small emergencies, and it tends to happen at the worst moment: late at night at the front door, on the way out to the car, or at a side gate with your hands full. In San Marino, the problem is often made trickier by the hardware itself. Many homes here date to the 1920s and 1930s and still carry original mortise locks, solid-wood doors, and heavy brass trim that nobody wants scratched or drilled up.

That is why we treat extraction as careful, patient work rather than a quick fix. The goal is to get the broken piece out of the cylinder without damaging the lock, the finish, or the door around it. In many cases the lock can be saved and put back in service. When the cylinder is worn, damaged, or was already failing, we will tell you plainly and explain your options, including rekeying or upgrading to a higher-security cylinder.

Crenshaw Lock Company has served Greater Los Angeles and Ventura County since 1987, led by owner and lead technician David Shar. We are fully mobile and available around the clock, so there is no shop to drive to with a half-broken key in your pocket. We bring the tools and key-cutting capability to your driveway, gate, or front step.

How it works in San Marino

  1. 1

    Call and describe what happened

    Call (323) 997-8867 and tell us where the key broke: front door, mortise lock, garden gate, garage entry, or a vehicle. Let us know whether the broken piece is sticking out or sitting flush inside the cylinder, and whether you still have the other half of the key.

  2. 2

    We come to you

    We are fully mobile, so a technician travels to your San Marino address with extraction tools and key-cutting equipment. There is no storefront to visit. Everything happens on site, whether that is a home near Lacy Park or a door off Huntington Drive.

  3. 3

    Assess the lock and the fragment

    Before touching anything, we look at the lock type, its condition, and how the key broke. A modern deadbolt, an older mortise cylinder, and a gate padlock each call for a different approach, and a careful look first helps protect vintage hardware.

  4. 4

    Extract the broken piece

    Using fine extraction tools, we work the fragment out of the keyway without forcing the cylinder. When a piece is stubborn, we may need to remove the cylinder to work on it properly. The aim is always to avoid drilling unless it truly is the only option.

  5. 5

    Cut a replacement key

    Once the lock is clear, we cut a new working key. If you kept the other half, it can help guide the cut. If not, we can create a key from the lock itself. We then test it repeatedly to confirm smooth operation.

  6. 6

    Check the lock and talk through options

    We test the lock after extraction. If the cylinder is worn or damaged, we can rekey it or recommend a higher-security replacement. For period homes, we try to keep original brass and finishes intact while improving what is inside.

Need broken key extraction in San Marino?

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

Call (323) 997-8867

What affects the price

  • The type of lock involved: a standard deadbolt, an original mortise cylinder, a gate lock, or a high-security cylinder each take different time and care.
  • How the key broke and how deep the fragment sits, since a piece sticking out is simpler than one lodged far inside the cylinder.
  • Whether the cylinder has to be removed from the door to complete the extraction.
  • Whether the lock is damaged or worn and needs rekeying or replacement after the fragment is out.
  • The kind of replacement key needed, such as a basic cut key versus a restricted or high-security key.
  • The time of day and the location of the job, since we operate 24/7 and travel to you.

Why San Marino chooses us

  • Fully mobile service: we come to your property rather than asking you to bring a lock anywhere.
  • Available 24/7, so a snapped key at night or on a weekend does not have to wait.
  • Experience with older mortise hardware common in San Marino's 1920s and 1930s period-revival homes, with attention to preserving vintage brass and wood finishes.
  • In business since 1987, with David Shar as owner and lead technician.
  • We cut the replacement key on site, so extraction and a working key are handled in one visit.
  • Honest recommendations: if a lock can be saved, we say so, and if it should be upgraded, we explain why rather than pushing unnecessary work.

Broken Key Extraction across San Marino

San Marino is an almost entirely residential city, and its homes are unlike most of the Los Angeles area. Large Spanish Colonial, Tudor, and Georgian estates sit on generous lots, many with original solid-wood doors and mortise hardware. In the Huntington Library district, around the Huntington's gardens and museum, and in the Lacy Park neighborhood, owners often care deeply about keeping period details intact. A broken key in a door like that calls for a gentle hand, not a drill.

We work across the 91108 ZIP code and the areas around Huntington Drive, Sierra Madre Blvd, San Gabriel Blvd, Del Mar Ave, and Los Robles Ave. That includes the modest commercial stretch along Huntington Drive and Mission Street in the Mission District, where a snapped key in a shop or office door can interrupt a business day.

Because many properties here have side doors, garden gates, and detached structures in addition to the main entry, a single broken key can lead to a bigger conversation about the whole property. If a key has snapped and you are also thinking about rekeying every exterior door and gate to one key, or adding a higher-security cylinder while keeping the original hardware, we can handle that during the same visit. Call (323) 997-8867 any time, day or night.

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 San Marino locksmith services

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

Broken Key Extraction in San Marino — FAQs

Can you remove a broken key from an old mortise lock without damaging it?
In most cases, yes. Careful extraction usually frees the fragment without harming the lock or its brass trim. We assess the cylinder first, and if it needs to come out of the door to be worked on safely, we do that with care. Call (323) 997-8867 to discuss your door.
Do you offer broken key extraction at night in San Marino?
Yes. We are available 24/7 and fully mobile, so we can travel to your San Marino home or business at any hour. Call (323) 997-8867 and tell us where the key broke.
Will you have to drill the lock?
Drilling is a last resort. We try to extract the fragment with fine tools first so the lock can stay in service. Drilling is only considered if the lock is already damaged or the fragment cannot be freed any other way.
Can you make a new key if I lost the other half?
Usually, yes. Once the lock is clear, we can cut a new key, even if you no longer have the other piece. We test it in the lock before we leave.
Do I need to bring the lock to a shop?
No. We are mobile only and have no storefront. Everything is done at your door, gate, or vehicle, including cutting the replacement key.
My key broke in a garden gate lock. Can you help?
Yes. San Marino properties often have side and garden gates, and we handle those as well as front doors. If you would like all exterior locks and gates on one key afterward, we can rekey them during the same visit.
Should I replace the lock after a key breaks in it?
Not always. If the lock works smoothly after extraction, it can often stay. If it is worn, sticky, or damaged, we may suggest rekeying or a higher-security cylinder. We will explain the options plainly.
What should I do before you arrive?
Stop turning the key and do not try to pry the fragment out with pliers or a knife, as that can push it deeper. Keep any piece you have, and call us at (323) 997-8867.
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