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Crenshaw Lock

Broken Key Extraction in Tarzana · 24/7 mobile

Broken Key Extraction in Tarzana, California

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

  • Mobile to your Tarzana 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 snapped key always seems to happen at the worst time: a rushed morning on the way to Ventura Blvd, a late return from a shift at Providence Cedars-Sinai Tarzana Medical Center, or a stubborn front door that finally gave out. Part of the key is still in your hand, the rest is stuck in the cylinder, and the door or the car will not cooperate. The good news is that a broken key is usually a very fixable problem when it is handled carefully and not forced.

Crenshaw Lock Company is fully mobile. We have no storefront, so there is nothing to visit. A technician drives to you in Tarzana with extraction tools and key-cutting equipment, so the fragment comes out and a new working key is made on site. David Shar has run the company since 1987, and broken keys have been part of that work the whole time.

Tarzana has an unusual mix of locks. The flats north of Ventura Blvd hold many 1950s ranch homes and apartments with older builder hardware, including mortise locks that have worn for decades. South of the Boulevard, hillside homes and gated estates often use higher-security deadbolts and smart locks. Along Ventura itself, medical and professional suites rely on commercial cylinders. Each of these breaks differently, and each needs a slightly different approach to extraction.

How it works in Tarzana

  1. 1

    Call and describe what happened

    Call (323) 997-8867 any hour. Tell us which lock is involved (front door, deadbolt, mortise lock, office door, gate, or ignition), how much of the key is left in your hand, and whether the fragment is flush with the face or sticking out. Please do not try to push it deeper or glue anything together.

  2. 2

    We come to your Tarzana location

    Because we are fully mobile, a technician drives to your home, office suite, or vehicle with the tools needed. We make no promises about timing over the phone, but we are available around the clock, including nights, weekends, and holidays.

  3. 3

    Assess the lock and the fragment

    On arrival we look at the cylinder type, the condition of the lock, and how the key broke. A fragment near the face of a clean deadbolt is a different job from a piece lodged deep in a worn mortise cylinder or a wafer-style ignition.

  4. 4

    Extract the broken piece

    We use purpose-made extractors and fine tools to catch the key and draw it out without scratching the plug or damaging the pins. The aim is to keep the original lock working whenever that is reasonable, so you do not have to replace hardware unnecessarily.

  5. 5

    Cut a replacement key

    Once the fragment is out, we cut a new working key on site, usually from the broken pieces or by decoding the lock. We test it several times to confirm smooth turning, and we can make extra copies while we are there.

  6. 6

    Check the lock and advise

    A key usually snaps because the lock is dragging, worn, or misaligned. We test the action and tell you plainly whether it needs lubrication, a rebuild, a rekey, or replacement. Nothing is added without your agreement.

Need broken key extraction in Tarzana?

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

Call (323) 997-8867

What affects the price

  • Which lock is involved: a standard residential deadbolt, a mortise lock, a commercial office cylinder, a gate lock, or a vehicle ignition each take different work.
  • How deep the fragment is lodged and whether it is bent, jammed, or stuck with debris or glue from an earlier attempt to fix it.
  • Whether the lock can be saved after extraction or needs a rebuild, rekey, or replacement because of wear or damage.
  • The type of replacement key required, such as a basic cut key, a high-security key, or a transponder or smart key for a vehicle.
  • The time of day and the location of the call, since we serve night and weekend emergencies and travel to you.
  • How many copies you want made during the same visit.

Why Tarzana chooses us

  • Fully mobile and available 24/7, with no storefront to visit and no need to bring the lock to us.
  • In business since 1987 under owner and lead technician David Shar, with long experience on both old and modern locks.
  • We try to preserve your existing lock when it is sensible, rather than defaulting to replacement.
  • Extraction and new key cutting happen in one visit, so you are not left waiting on a separate trip.
  • We handle a broad range of Tarzana hardware, from older mortise locks on ranch homes to commercial cylinders in Ventura Blvd suites.
  • We explain what caused the break and what your options are before any extra work starts.

Broken Key Extraction across Tarzana

Tarzana sits in the south-central San Fernando Valley, split by Ventura Blvd and named for the Tarzan author Edgar Rice Burroughs, whose ranch once stood here. We work across both of its ZIP codes, including 91356 and 91357, and reach homes and businesses off Reseda Blvd, Tampa Ave, Lindley Ave, Wilbur Ave, and Corbin Ave, as well as quick access from the US-101.

In the Tarzana flats north of Ventura Blvd, many homes are 1950s ranch houses and apartments. Older front-door hardware, including mortise locks that have seized or worn after decades of use, is a common reason keys snap. In those cases we extract the piece, check the lock, and rebuild it if that is the better choice. Near El Caballero and the neighborhoods around the Tarzana Recreation Center, we see a similar blend of older and updated hardware.

South of the Boulevard, in the Santa Monica Mountains hillside, custom homes and gated estates often combine high-security deadbolts, smart locks, and driveway gates, so a broken key may involve a more precise cylinder. Along the Ventura Blvd medical and commercial corridor, near Providence Cedars-Sinai Tarzana Medical Center, office suites frequently use master-keyed systems, and a snapped key there should be handled so the master system is not compromised. Call (323) 997-8867 whenever it happens.

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 Tarzana locksmith services

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

Broken Key Extraction in Tarzana — FAQs

What should I do right after a key breaks in the lock?
Stop turning or pushing the key. Do not use glue, pliers, or a second key to force it. Call Crenshaw Lock Company at (323) 997-8867 and tell us what part of the key is left. Careful handling keeps the fragment easy to remove.
Do you come to me in Tarzana?
Yes. We are fully mobile and have no storefront. We travel to homes, offices, and vehicles throughout Tarzana, including both the flats and the hillside areas south of Ventura Blvd.
Are you available at night or on weekends?
Yes, we are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Call (323) 997-8867 any time. We do not quote arrival times by phone, but a broken key at night is exactly the kind of call we take.
Can you get a key out of my car ignition?
Often, yes. Extraction from a vehicle ignition is a different job from a door lock, and the right approach depends on the ignition type. Call (323) 997-8867 with your vehicle make, model, and year so we can plan the visit.
Will I need a new lock after the key is removed?
Not always. If the cylinder is in good shape, we can often extract the piece and keep it. If the lock is badly worn, as with some older mortise locks in the Tarzana flats, we will explain whether a rebuild or replacement makes sense.
Can you cut a new key on the spot?
Yes. After extraction we cut a working replacement at your location and test it in the lock. We can make extra copies at the same time if you want them.
Can you help with a broken key at my Ventura Blvd office?
Yes. We work on commercial and master-keyed cylinders. If the lock is part of a master system, tell us when you call at (323) 997-8867 so we can handle it with the system in mind.
How is the price determined?
The cost depends on the lock type, how the key broke, whether the lock can be saved, what kind of replacement key is needed, and the time and location of the call. We explain the work and the cost before starting anything beyond the extraction.
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