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Crenshaw Lock

Broken Key Extraction in South Pasadena · 24/7 mobile

Broken Key Extraction in South Pasadena, CA

Crenshaw Lock Company provides mobile broken key extraction in South Pasadena, California, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. If a key has snapped in a door lock, deadbolt, padlock, or ignition, call (323) 997-8867 and we will come to you and get it out.

  • Mobile to your South Pasadena 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 those problems that feels small until you are standing on the porch with half a key in your hand. In South Pasadena, it often happens on older hardware. Many of the Craftsman bungalows, Victorians, and 1920s Spanish revival homes here still carry original rim and mortise locks, and decades of wear, dried lubricant, and slightly misaligned doors make keys more likely to bind and break.

Our work is straightforward: we remove the broken piece without damaging the lock whenever that is realistic, then cut a working replacement key. Crenshaw Lock Company has served Greater Los Angeles and Ventura County since 1987, and owner David Shar and the team have pulled broken keys out of everything from vintage mortise cylinders to modern deadbolts and car ignitions.

We are fully mobile, so there is no shop to drive to. We come to your home, your Mission Street storefront, or the car parked near Garfield Park, and we work on site. Because we are available around the clock, a key that breaks late at night or on a weekend does not have to wait until morning.

How it works in South Pasadena

  1. 1

    You call and describe what happened

    Call (323) 997-8867 and tell us where the key broke: front door, deadbolt, side gate padlock, shop door, or car ignition. Let us know whether any of the key is still sticking out of the lock. Please do not push the broken piece deeper or try to pry it with a screwdriver, since that can make extraction harder.

  2. 2

    We come to your location

    Our technician travels to you in South Pasadena, whether that is a bungalow in Monterey Hills, a shop on Mission Street, or a vehicle on Fair Oaks Avenue. We are mobile only, so everything happens on site.

  3. 3

    Assessing the lock and the break

    We look at the type of lock, its age, and how the key broke. A worn original mortise cylinder behaves differently from a newer deadbolt or a vehicle ignition. That tells us which extraction method is least likely to harm the hardware.

  4. 4

    Extracting the broken piece

    Using specialized extraction tools, we remove the fragment from the keyway. If the key is partly visible we can often grip it directly. If it is deep in the cylinder, we use finer tools and take our time to avoid scarring the pins or the plug.

  5. 5

    Cutting a replacement key

    Once the lock is clear, we cut a new working key, using the remaining half of the old key or the lock itself as a reference. We then test it several times so you know it turns smoothly.

  6. 6

    Checking the lock and advising next steps

    If the cylinder is worn or damaged, we tell you plainly and talk through options such as rekeying or replacing the cylinder. On vintage doors we aim to keep the original hardware in place whenever it is sound.

Need broken key extraction in South Pasadena?

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

Call (323) 997-8867

What affects the price

  • How deeply the key is lodged and whether part of it is still sticking out of the lock
  • The type of lock involved, such as a vintage mortise cylinder, rim lock, deadbolt, padlock, or vehicle ignition
  • Whether a replacement key is needed, and how complex that key is to cut
  • Whether the cylinder was damaged and needs rekeying or replacement after extraction
  • Time of day and urgency, since we are available 24/7 including nights, weekends, and holidays
  • Whether the work involves multiple locks, such as a shop with several doors keyed alike

Why South Pasadena chooses us

  • Fully mobile service: we come to your door in South Pasadena, with no storefront to visit and no need to travel with a half-broken key
  • Serving Greater Los Angeles and Ventura County since 1987, with experience on the older mortise and rim hardware common in Craftsman and period-revival homes
  • Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, so a snapped key at midnight gets the same attention as one at noon
  • We try to preserve original hardware, which matters in a city that takes pride in its well-kept historic homes
  • Extraction and key cutting in one visit, so you are not left with a clear lock and no way to use it
  • Plain advice about whether a cylinder is worth keeping, with no pressure to replace what still works

Broken Key Extraction across South Pasadena

South Pasadena is compact, only about 3.4 square miles, but its housing varies a lot from one block to the next. Around the Mission Street District you will find original Craftsman and Victorian homes where the front door may still have its first lock set from the early twentieth century. Up in Monterey Hills and Altos de Monterey, hillside homes often have a mix of period hardware and newer deadbolts added over the years. Each of these behaves differently when a key breaks, and we adjust our approach to match.

Businesses feel this too. Along Mission Street near the Mission West antique row, and on Fair Oaks Avenue near the Rialto Theatre and Fair Oaks Pharmacy, many small shops rely on older commercial locks and sometimes a single set of keys. A key that snaps at opening or mid-shift can stall a whole day. We come to the shop, extract the piece, and cut a replacement so you can get back to customers. Commuters who park near the Metro A Line Mission station, or shoppers at the South Pasadena Farmers Market, can also call us when a car key breaks in a door or ignition.

We serve both ZIP codes in the city, 91030 and 91031, and reach homes and businesses from the I-110 Arroyo Seco Parkway side to Fremont Avenue and Huntington Drive. Many homes here are also used as film and TV locations, and owners sometimes find that heavy use of keys and lockboxes puts extra wear on locks. If a broken key reveals a tired cylinder, we can talk through a discreet rekey. Call (323) 997-8867 any time.

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 South Pasadena locksmith services

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

Broken Key Extraction in South Pasadena — FAQs

What should I do right after a key breaks in the lock?
Stop turning or pushing it. Do not try to wedge the piece out with a knife or screwdriver, which can jam it deeper. Call (323) 997-8867 and we will come to your South Pasadena location and handle the extraction.
Can you remove a broken key without damaging my old Craftsman lock?
In most cases, yes. We use extraction tools designed for the keyway and work carefully to protect the pins and plug. Older cylinders are more fragile, so we assess the lock first and tell you honestly if it is worn.
Do you also fix broken car keys and ignitions?
Yes. If a key snapped in a car door or ignition in South Pasadena, we can come to the vehicle, extract the fragment, and cut a replacement. Call (323) 997-8867 and describe the vehicle so we can prepare.
Are you available at night and on weekends?
Yes. We are a 24/7 mobile locksmith, including nights, weekends, and holidays. Call (323) 997-8867 whenever the key breaks.
Will you cut a new key during the same visit?
Generally yes. After the broken piece is out, we cut a working replacement and test it in the lock. If the lock is damaged we will discuss rekeying or replacing the cylinder.
How is the cost determined?
It depends on the lock type, how deep the key is stuck, whether a replacement key and any cylinder work are needed, and the time of day. We explain the factors for your situation before work begins.
Can you help a Mission Street shop that broke its only key?
Yes. We come to the storefront, extract the piece, and cut a new key. If the lock is worn or you want to change who has access, we can rekey the cylinder too.
Do I need to bring the broken key anywhere?
No. We are mobile only and have no storefront. Keep both pieces of the key if you can, since they help us cut an accurate replacement at your door.
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