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(323) 997-8867
Crenshaw Lock

Broken Key Extraction in Valley Glen · 24/7 mobile

Broken Key Extraction in Valley Glen, California

Crenshaw Lock Company provides mobile broken key extraction in Valley Glen, 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 replacement.

  • Mobile to your Valley Glen 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 in the lock always seems to happen at the worst moment: leaving for an early class at Los Angeles Valley College, pulling into the driveway after a late shift, or turning a stubborn deadbolt on a 1950s ranch home with a front door that has swollen a little in the heat. The first instinct is to grab pliers or superglue a stub back together. Please don't. Both tend to push the broken piece deeper or damage the pins, and a simple extraction becomes a lock replacement.

Crenshaw Lock Company has served Greater Los Angeles and Ventura County since 1987, and owner and lead tech David Shar built the business around fully mobile service. There is no storefront to drive to. We bring the tools to your door, your car, or your parking space in Valley Glen, any hour of the day or night.

Broken key extraction is more delicate than it looks. The goal is to get the fragment out with the lock still working, then make a new key that actually fits. Sometimes that means a thin extractor and steady hands. Sometimes it means taking the cylinder apart. We will tell you which one applies before we start, and we will not push you toward a replacement lock if the one you have can be saved.

How it works in Valley Glen

  1. 1

    You call, we ask the right questions

    When you reach us at (323) 997-8867, we ask where the key broke: front door, back door, garage entry, padlock, or a car ignition or door. We also ask whether any piece sticks out of the keyway and whether anyone has tried to remove it. That helps us bring the right extractors and key-cutting equipment the first time.

  2. 2

    We come to you

    We are fully mobile and available 24/7, so we travel to your home, apartment, condo, or vehicle in Valley Glen. We are upfront that we do not have a shop for you to visit. Everything happens on site.

  3. 3

    Inspect the lock and the fragment

    Before touching anything, we look at how much of the key remains, how it is seated, and whether the lock is a standard pin tumbler, a higher-security cylinder, or a worn older knob. Cleaning out debris and checking the condition of the cylinder tells us how likely a clean extraction is.

  4. 4

    Extract the broken piece carefully

    We use thin purpose-made extractors and, when needed, other precision methods to catch the cuts of the key and draw it out without forcing the pins. If the fragment is stuck deep, the cylinder may need to be removed from the door or ignition housing so it can be worked on safely.

  5. 5

    Cut a replacement and test it

    Once the piece is out, we can cut a new key from the broken halves or from the lock itself. We then test it repeatedly in the lock, checking for smooth turning, and if the cylinder was worn we will say so honestly. Transponder keys for vehicles can require added programming, which we will discuss up front.

  6. 6

    Talk through what comes next

    A key that snapped is often a sign of a worn key, a sticky lock, or a misaligned door. We point out what we see and offer options, whether that is a rekey, a fresh deadbolt, or simply a spare key so it does not happen again.

Need broken key extraction in Valley Glen?

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

Call (323) 997-8867

What affects the price

  • Where the key broke: a standard house deadbolt, a padlock, and a car ignition each involve different tools, access, and time.
  • How deep the fragment sits and whether it is flush with the face of the lock, which determines whether simple extraction works or the cylinder must be removed.
  • The type and condition of the lock, since worn, corroded, or high-security cylinders behave differently than newer standard ones.
  • Whether a replacement key is needed and what kind: a basic house key, a high-security key, or a transponder or smart key that needs programming.
  • Whether the lock can be saved or the cylinder has been damaged, for example by a prior attempt at DIY removal, which may call for a rekey or replacement.
  • Time of day and the complexity of the job, since we are available around the clock and a late-night call may differ from a daytime visit. We give you the details before work begins.

Why Valley Glen chooses us

  • Fully mobile, 24/7 service means we come to the door or car in Valley Glen rather than asking you to bring a lock or vehicle anywhere.
  • In business since 1987, with owner and lead tech David Shar leading the work, so extraction technique comes from long experience rather than a one-size-fits-all approach.
  • We try to save your existing lock first. If a clean extraction and fresh key solve the problem, we won't talk you into new hardware you don't need.
  • We explain what we find in plain language, including when a cylinder is too worn to trust, so you can decide with real information.
  • One visit handles both the extraction and the replacement key, so you aren't left with the broken piece out but no working key.
  • We handle homes, apartments, condos, padlocks, and vehicle ignitions, which matters in a neighborhood that mixes single-family houses, rentals, and commuter cars.

Broken Key Extraction across Valley Glen

Valley Glen is a quiet, tree-lined residential neighborhood that grew out of parts of Van Nuys and North Hollywood and was recognized as its own community in the late 1990s. Much of it is 1940s and 1950s ranch and traditional homes, and many of those front doors and side gates have been turned by the same keys for decades. Wear on old brass keys and aging cylinders is a common reason keys snap, especially in the ZIP codes 91401, 91405, and 91606, where long-time owners and newer families share the same older housing stock.

Around the Los Angeles Valley College district and along Burbank Boulevard, the picture shifts to apartments, condos, and student-adjacent rentals. A key shared between roommates or passed from one tenant to the next often takes a beating, and a snapped key can leave someone locked out right before class. If you have a condo or townhome off Burbank Boulevard with a worn knob lock, extraction is a good moment to consider stepping up to a graded deadbolt. Likewise, if you are preparing a 1950s ranch for resale, we can extract the broken key, rekey the exterior locks to match, and discuss a smart-lock on the front door.

We get around the area using Victory Boulevard, Oxnard Street, Coldwater Canyon Avenue, and CA-170, and we serve homes near Valley Glen Community Park and the Tujunga Wash and Great Wall of Los Angeles corridor as well. Wherever the key snapped, call (323) 997-8867 any hour and we will come to you.

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 Valley Glen locksmith services

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

Broken Key Extraction in Valley Glen — FAQs

Should I try to pull out a broken key myself?
We recommend against it. Pliers, tweezers, and glue often push the fragment deeper or damage the pins, which can turn a simple extraction into a lock replacement. If you can, leave it alone and call (323) 997-8867 so we can help in Valley Glen.
Can you come out at night or on weekends?
Yes. Crenshaw Lock Company is 24/7 and fully mobile, so we serve Valley Glen at any hour, including nights, weekends, and holidays. We don't make timing promises, but we will answer and get you scheduled.
Will you be able to save my lock?
Often, yes. In many cases the fragment can be removed without harming the cylinder and the lock keeps working. If the cylinder is too worn or was damaged by an earlier attempt, we will tell you honestly and explain your options.
Do you also make the replacement key?
Yes. After extraction we cut a new key and test it in the lock. For vehicle ignitions with transponder keys, programming may be involved, and we will walk you through that. Call (323) 997-8867 with your lock or car details.
My key broke in my car ignition. Can you help?
We handle vehicle ignitions as well as home locks. We come to your car wherever it is in Valley Glen, remove the fragment, and make a replacement key. Tell us the make and model when you call so we can prepare.
Do I need to come to your shop?
No. We are mobile only and have no storefront. Everything, from extraction to key cutting, is done at your home, rental, or vehicle.
I rent near Los Angeles Valley College. Who should I call?
If you are a tenant, check with your landlord or property manager first about who authorizes lock work. If you are cleared to proceed, or you own the unit, call us and we can extract the key and discuss a rekey if needed.
How can I keep keys from snapping again?
Snapped keys are often worn keys or sticky locks. Get a fresh copy cut from a good original, avoid using the key as a lever, and have a stiff or gritty lock serviced. We can advise on this during the visit.
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