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Crenshaw Lock

Broken Key Extraction in West Hills · 24/7 mobile

Broken Key Extraction in West Hills, California

Need broken key extraction in West Hills? Crenshaw Lock Company is a fully mobile locksmith available 24/7. We come to your home, gate, or car, remove the snapped key piece, and cut a working replacement. Call (323) 997-8867 and tell us where the key broke.

  • Mobile to your West Hills 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 a lock is one of those problems that feels small until it leaves you standing outside your own front door, or stuck with a car that will not start. In West Hills it happens more often than people expect, and a lot of it comes down to age. Many homes here are 1960s to 1980s tract houses, and the original Kwikset and Schlage hardware on them has been turned thousands of times. Worn pins, dry cylinders, and keys copied from copies all add up to a key that finally gives way.

Crenshaw Lock Company has been serving Greater Los Angeles and Ventura County since 1987, led by owner and lead technician David Shar. We are fully mobile, which means there is no shop to visit. We bring the extraction tools and key-cutting equipment to wherever the lock is, whether that is a front door near Shadow Ranch Park, a side gate, a garage-to-house door, or a car ignition in a parking lot off Victory Blvd.

The goal is simple: get the broken piece out without damaging the lock whenever that is realistic, make sure you have a key that works, and tell you honestly if the lock itself should be replaced. Sometimes extraction is all that is needed. Sometimes the break is a symptom of a cylinder that is wearing out, and we will say so plainly rather than sell you something you do not need.

How it works in West Hills

  1. 1

    You call and describe what broke

    Call (323) 997-8867 any hour. Tell us which lock it is (front deadbolt, gate, garage door, car door, or ignition), whether any of the key is still sticking out, and whether you still have the other half. That helps us bring the right tools.

  2. 2

    We come to you

    Because we are fully mobile, a technician drives to your West Hills address with extraction tools and key-cutting equipment on board. There is no storefront trip and no need to tow anything for a typical door lock.

  3. 3

    Assess the break

    We look at how the key broke: flush with the face of the cylinder, deep inside, or still gripped by the pins. We also check the lock for wear, debris, or a bent key blade, since these affect how we approach removal and whether the lock should stay in service.

  4. 4

    Extract the fragment

    Using fine extractor tools, we work the piece out of the keyway without forcing the cylinder. If a piece is jammed beyond a clean pull, we may remove and open the cylinder instead. Drilling is a last resort, used only when gentler methods will not work.

  5. 5

    Cut a replacement key

    Once the keyway is clear, we cut a new key to the lock, using the broken pieces as a reference if needed. We test it repeatedly to be sure it turns smoothly and the lock operates without sticking.

  6. 6

    Recommend, never push

    If the cylinder is worn, damaged, or failing, we explain your options, such as rekeying or replacing the hardware. You decide. If the lock is healthy, we leave it working and move on.

Need broken key extraction in West Hills?

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 door deadbolt, a gate lock, a car door, and an ignition each call for different tools and different amounts of work.
  • How deep the fragment sits in the keyway, and whether it is flush, recessed, or wedged against the pins.
  • Whether a replacement key is simple to cut or requires a transponder or programmed key, as many newer vehicles do.
  • Whether the lock can be saved or needs rekeying or replacement hardware after the extraction.
  • The time of day or night you call, since we are available 24/7 and after-hours service can differ from daytime calls.
  • How far the technician must travel to reach your location in the West Hills area.

Why West Hills chooses us

  • Fully mobile: we arrive with extraction tools and a key-cutting setup, so the whole job is done at your door rather than at a shop.
  • In business since 1987, with owner David Shar leading the work, which means decades of experience with the lock types common in older Valley tract homes.
  • Extraction first, drilling last: we try to preserve your existing lock instead of defaulting to replacement.
  • Honest assessments: if a broken key points to a failing cylinder, we tell you, and if the lock is fine, we say that too.
  • Familiar with local hardware: aging Kwikset and Schlage builder locks, gated-community pedestrian gates, and the smart-lock upgrades many West Hills homeowners are installing.
  • Available 24/7, so a snapped key at night or on a weekend does not have to wait.

Broken Key Extraction across West Hills

West Hills sits at the western edge of the San Fernando Valley, and its housing reflects that. Around the Shadow Ranch area, you find many 1960s to 1980s single-family tract homes where the original deadbolts are now decades old. Those cylinders are prime candidates for a key that finally snaps, especially when a worn copy has been used for years. A new owner of one of these homes will often ask us to extract a broken key and then rekey every exterior door to a single key, sometimes with a smart deadbolt added at the front.

In the Platt Village and Platt Ave corridor, we see a mix of residential and everyday errands: keys breaking in car doors and ignitions in parking lots along Sherman Way, Vanowen St, and Roscoe Blvd. Up in the Valley Circle foothills toward the Bell Canyon edge, gated developments add another layer. A pedestrian gate lock or call-box lock can seize and snap a key just as easily as a front door, and we can match gate and door locks to a single key after the extraction. For these areas in ZIP codes 91307, 91304, and 91308, we come to you.

Whether you are near Orcutt Ranch Horticultural Center, finishing a shift near West Hills Hospital & Medical Center, dropping off a student at Chaminade College Preparatory, or coming back from a hike at Upper Las Virgenes Canyon Open Space Preserve, a snapped key does not have to ruin the day. One scenario we see is a garage-to-house door deadbolt that fails and jams with part of the key inside. That job can involve extraction, and if needed drilling and replacing the lock. Call (323) 997-8867 and we will work out the right approach for your situation.

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 West Hills locksmith services

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

Broken Key Extraction in West Hills — FAQs

Can you really get a broken key out of a lock without replacing it?
Often, yes. If the fragment is accessible, we use fine extraction tools to pull it out of the keyway and leave the lock intact. If it is jammed deep or the cylinder is damaged, we may need to remove or replace the cylinder. Call (323) 997-8867 and describe what happened.
Do you come to me in West Hills, or do I have to bring the lock somewhere?
We are fully mobile and have no storefront. A technician comes to your location, whether that is a home near Shadow Ranch, a gated community off Valley Circle, or a vehicle in a parking lot.
What if the key broke in my car ignition?
We can extract the fragment from the ignition and cut a replacement key. Depending on the vehicle, the new key may need a transponder chip programmed. Call (323) 997-8867 with your make, model, and year so we know what to bring.
Are you available at night or on weekends?
Yes. Crenshaw Lock Company is available 24/7. We do not make arrival-time promises over the phone, but we are mobile and answer around the clock.
Will you need to drill my lock?
Drilling is a last resort. We try non-destructive extraction first. If a jammed deadbolt, such as a failed garage-to-house door lock, makes drilling necessary, we explain it first and install a replacement so the door is secure.
Why did my key break in the first place?
Common causes are old, worn locks, keys copied from other copies, a lock that has dried out or collected debris, and bent keys that were forced. Many West Hills homes have decades-old builder hardware, so wear is a frequent culprit.
Can you also rekey the locks or match them to one key?
Yes. After extraction, we can rekey exterior doors to a single key, match a pedestrian gate lock to your house key, or install a smart deadbolt. Ask us when you call (323) 997-8867.
What areas do you cover around West Hills?
We serve West Hills, including ZIP codes 91307, 91304, and 91308, along with the wider Greater Los Angeles and Ventura County area.
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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