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Crenshaw Lock

Broken Key Extraction in Studio City · 24/7 mobile

Broken Key Extraction in Studio City, California

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

  • Mobile to your Studio City 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 seems small until you are standing on the porch at night with half a key in your hand. In Studio City it happens in every kind of place: a worn brass key in a 1950s ranch house, a stiff deadbolt on a condo along Colfax Avenue, a padlock on a side gate, or a car ignition in a parking structure off Ventura Boulevard. The lock still works, and the cure is usually not drilling or replacing it. It is careful extraction.

Crenshaw Lock Company has served Greater Los Angeles and Ventura County since 1987, and owner and lead technician David Shar built the business on being fully mobile. We have no storefront for you to drive to. We come to your door, your car, or your gate, at any hour, and do the work on the spot. Our goal is to get the broken piece out without damaging the cylinder whenever that is possible, then make you a new key that turns smoothly.

The most important thing you can do before we arrive is stop trying to fix it yourself. Pushing the broken half back in, using glue, or forcing pliers into the keyway tends to wedge the fragment deeper or bend the pins. If part of the key is still sticking out, leave it alone and call (323) 997-8867. We will talk through what you have and what to avoid.

How it works in Studio City

  1. 1

    Tell us what broke and where

    When you call (323) 997-8867, we ask what kind of lock it is, whether the key snapped flush or is sticking out, and whether it is a door, a padlock, a gate, or a vehicle. That helps us bring the right extraction tools and blanks for the job.

  2. 2

    Look at the keyway and the fragment

    On arrival we inspect how deep the broken piece sits, whether the plug is partly turned, and whether the lock is worn, corroded, or gummed up. Older hardware on mid-century homes often behaves differently from a newer high-security cylinder.

  3. 3

    Extract the piece without forcing it

    We use fine extraction tools to grip and draw the fragment out along the keyway. The aim is to preserve the cylinder. If the lock is badly worn or damaged, we explain that before going further and offer practical options.

  4. 4

    Cut a replacement key

    Once the fragment is out, we can often cut a new key from the broken pieces or by decoding the lock. If the original key is gone entirely, we can still make one from the lock itself, on site.

  5. 5

    Test the lock and check for wear

    We run the new key through the lock several times and check the bolt and latch. If a snapped key was a warning sign of a worn cylinder or a misaligned strike, we tell you plainly and let you decide whether to rekey or replace.

Need broken key extraction in Studio City?

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 basic residential deadbolt, a high-security cylinder, a padlock, or a vehicle ignition each take different tools and time.
  • How deep the fragment is lodged and whether it snapped flush with the face of the lock.
  • Whether a replacement key can be cut from the broken pieces or must be made from scratch by decoding the lock.
  • Whether the cylinder was damaged and needs rekeying or replacement rather than just extraction.
  • Vehicle keys with transponder chips or smart features, which may need programming after cutting.
  • The time of day and location of the call, since we are available around the clock and travel to you.

Why Studio City chooses us

  • Fully mobile, so the work happens at your door, gate, or vehicle rather than at a shop you have to reach with a broken key.
  • Serving the Los Angeles area since 1987, with owner and lead tech David Shar behind the work.
  • Available 24/7, including nights and weekends when keys tend to snap at the worst moments.
  • We try to save the existing lock first and tell you honestly if it needs rekeying or replacement, instead of pushing a new lock by default.
  • We handle the whole job in one visit: extraction, replacement key, and a function check of the lock.

Broken Key Extraction across Studio City

Studio City covers a wide range of locks. The flats north of Ventura Boulevard, including Colfax Meadows near ZIP 91604, are full of 1940s and 50s ranch and traditional homes where original or mid-century hardware is still in daily use. Decades of turning the same key can wear it thin, and those older brass keys are a common culprit when one snaps in a front door or back gate. We take care to extract carefully so an aging lock can keep working when it reasonably can.

Along the Ventura Boulevard corridor, aluminum-storefront shops and restaurants rely on narrow-profile locks that take a lot of daily use, and apartment and condo buildings from the 1960s through the 80s, including around the Silver Triangle, often have shared or older cylinders. Whether you are near Tujunga Village, the Studio City Farmers Market, or working a shift near Radford Studio Center, we come to you and handle the job where you are.

Up toward Fryman Canyon, Wilacre Park, and Laurel Canyon, hillside homes in ZIP 91604 and 91602 mix mid-century moderns with newer gated contemporary estates. A key snapped in a driveway gate lock or a multipoint front door lock there deserves careful handling, and we can work around smart locks and intercom systems. Whether you are off Coldwater Canyon Avenue, near the US-101 on-ramps, or anywhere in 91607 or 91614, 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 Studio City locksmith services

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

Broken Key Extraction in Studio City — FAQs

What should I do right after a key breaks in the lock?
Stop trying to turn it or push the piece back in. Avoid glue and pliers. If part of the key is sticking out, leave it as is and call (323) 997-8867 so we can advise you and come out.
Can you really get the broken piece out without replacing the lock?
In many cases yes. We use specialized extraction tools to draw the fragment out along the keyway. If the cylinder is badly worn or damaged, we will explain that and discuss options, including rekeying or replacement.
Do you come to Studio City at night or on weekends?
Yes. Crenshaw Lock Company is a 24/7 mobile locksmith, so you can call (323) 997-8867 at any hour, including nights, weekends, and holidays.
Can you make a new key if I have no pieces left?
Usually. If the fragment is still in the lock, we can often copy it once it is out. If not, we can typically make a key from the lock itself on site.
Do you handle keys broken in car ignitions?
Yes. We can extract broken keys from ignitions and cut replacements. Keys with transponder chips may also need programming, which we can discuss when you call.
My key snapped in a smart lock or gated entry. Can you help?
Often yes. Many smart locks still have a mechanical keyway, and a gate or multipoint lock can have a conventional cylinder too. We can extract the piece and check the hardware afterward.
Is there a shop I can visit in Studio City?
No. We are fully mobile and have no storefront. We travel to your home, business, or vehicle, so you do not need to go anywhere.
How is the price of a broken key extraction determined?
It depends on the lock type, how deep the fragment sits, whether a new key must be made from scratch, and whether the lock needs repair. Call (323) 997-8867 and describe the situation and we will talk through it.
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