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Crenshaw Lock

Broken Key Extraction in Woodland Hills · 24/7 mobile

Broken Key Extraction in Woodland Hills, California

Crenshaw Lock Company provides mobile broken key extraction in Woodland Hills, 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 Woodland 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 stops you from getting into your home, your office, or your car. In Woodland Hills it tends to happen at inconvenient moments: late in the evening after a long drive back over the hill on Topanga Canyon Blvd, early in the morning before a shift in Warner Center, or in the middle of a workday when a shop door on Ventura Blvd suddenly won't turn. The good news is that a broken key is usually a fixable problem, and in most cases the lock itself can be saved.

Crenshaw Lock Company has been serving Greater Los Angeles and Ventura County since 1987, and David Shar leads the work. We are fully mobile, which means there is no storefront to visit. We bring the extraction tools, key-cutting capability, and replacement hardware to your door, your driveway, or your parking space, any hour of the day or night.

Broken key extraction is delicate work. Pulling on a snapped key with the wrong tool can push the fragment deeper, bend pins, or damage the cylinder. We approach each job by first looking at how the key broke, what kind of lock it is, and how much of the key remains, then choosing the least invasive method that will get the piece out cleanly. Once the fragment is out, we can cut a new key so you are not left with a lock that works only until the next accident.

How it works in Woodland Hills

  1. 1

    Call and describe what happened

    Call (323) 997-8867 any time. Tell us where the key broke: front door, garage entry, office, padlock, or ignition. Also let us know whether part of the key is still sticking out. That helps us bring the right tools. We are mobile and available 24/7, and we will not make timing promises we cannot keep.

  2. 2

    Look at the lock and the fragment

    On arrival we examine the keyway, the type of lock, and the position of the broken piece. A fragment sitting flush inside a high-security cylinder is a different job than a stub protruding from a standard deadbolt. Please stop trying to dig it out yourself, since that often makes things worse.

  3. 3

    Extract the broken piece

    We use purpose-made extraction tools to grip and draw the fragment out along the keyway without scoring the pins or the cylinder walls. When part of the key is exposed, it can often be gripped directly. When it is deeper, we use thin extractors designed to hook the key's cuts. Ignitions and padlocks call for extra care because the internals are less forgiving.

  4. 4

    Test the lock and check for damage

    Once the piece is out, we confirm the cylinder turns freely and the pins are intact. If the lock is worn or damaged, we tell you plainly whether it can be kept or should be rekeyed or replaced. Sometimes a broken key is a sign the lock was already binding.

  5. 5

    Cut a replacement key

    We cut a new working key on site, matched to the lock, so you are not left with only the damaged original. If you want spares for family members, employees, or a property manager, we can cut those as well.

  6. 6

    Advise on preventing a repeat

    Keys usually snap because of wear, a sticking lock, or a warped door that forces the key to turn against resistance. We point out any cause we see, such as a misaligned strike or a dry cylinder, so the same thing is less likely to happen again.

Need broken key extraction in Woodland 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 standard residential deadbolt, a commercial cylinder, a padlock, and a vehicle ignition each involve different tools and different levels of care.
  • How deep the fragment sits and whether any of it is exposed, since a visible stub is generally simpler to remove than a piece lodged far into the keyway.
  • Lock type and security level, as high-security and restricted keyways, smart lock cylinders, and panic hardware cylinders take more time and may require specialty tooling.
  • Whether the lock was damaged by earlier attempts to remove the key, which can add repair, rekey, or replacement work.
  • What you need after extraction, such as one replacement key, several duplicates, a rekey, or a new cylinder.
  • Time of day and location, since we operate 24/7 and travel to you, so after-hours calls and distance within the service area can affect the quote.

Why Woodland Hills chooses us

  • Fully mobile service with no storefront, so the tools and key-cutting capability come to you rather than you hauling a stuck lock or car anywhere.
  • In business serving Greater Los Angeles and Ventura County since 1987, with owner and lead technician David Shar standing behind the work.
  • Extraction first, replacement second: we try to save your existing lock when it is sound instead of steering you toward unnecessary hardware.
  • Comfortable with the lock types found around Woodland Hills, from standard ranch-home deadbolts to high-security cylinders on hillside properties and storefront hardware on Ventura Blvd.
  • Straightforward guidance on whether a lock should be kept, rekeyed, or replaced, explained in plain language before work goes further.
  • Available 24/7, so a snapped key at night or on a weekend does not have to wait until business hours.

Broken Key Extraction across Woodland Hills

Woodland Hills covers a lot of different lock situations in a small area. In the flats of 91364 and 91367, many homes are 1950s and 1960s ranch houses and mid-century moderns, often with older deadbolts and knob sets that have seen decades of use. Worn locks like these are common culprits when a key snaps, especially in neighborhoods such as Walnut Acres where the original hardware may still be in service. A key that has gotten stiff over time is a warning sign, and extraction is a good moment to decide whether the cylinder still deserves to stay.

South of Ventura Blvd, the hills of South of the Boulevard and Vista de Oro bring a different mix: custom homes and gated estates that frequently use high-security cylinders, such as Medeco or Mul-T-Lock, along with smart locks. Those keyways are tighter and more precisely built, which is exactly why a broken key there should be handled by someone who understands them rather than pried at with a makeshift tool. Closer to Warner Center, in 91367, high-rise condos and apartments often combine a traditional unit deadbolt with fob-based building access, so a snapped key at the unit door can usually be handled separately from the building's electronic system.

Along the Ventura Blvd commercial corridor and in 91365 near Topanga Canyon Blvd, shops and restaurants rely on storefront mortise locks and panic hardware. Heat-warped doors, which are not unusual in the Valley summer, can make a key bind and snap in the cylinder. Whether you are near Westfield Topanga and The Village, around Los Angeles Pierce College, or on a residential street near Serrania Park, call (323) 997-8867 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.

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Other Woodland Hills locksmith services

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

Broken Key Extraction in Woodland Hills — FAQs

What should I do right after a key breaks in my lock in Woodland Hills?
Stop turning or pulling on it. Keep any pieces you have, including the part still in your hand, because they help us match the key. Then call (323) 997-8867 and we will come to you, day or night.
Can you remove a broken key without damaging the lock?
In most cases, yes. We use extractors designed to draw the fragment out along the keyway. If the lock was already worn or was damaged by earlier attempts to dig the key out, we will tell you honestly what we find.
Do you also make a new key after the extraction?
Yes. We can cut a replacement on site, matched to your lock, and make duplicates if you want spares. If the lock is better rekeyed or replaced, we will explain why before doing anything.
Can you handle a key broken in a car ignition?
Yes, ignition extraction is part of the service. These need extra care because the internals are delicate, so please avoid forcing anything. Call (323) 997-8867 and tell us the vehicle and where it is parked.
Do you work on high-security locks at hillside homes?
We do. Homes south of Ventura Blvd often have restricted or high-security cylinders and smart locks. Those require careful extraction, and we can also discuss rekeying afterward if you want tighter control over who has keys.
My restaurant door on Ventura Blvd is sticking and the key snapped. Can you help?
Yes. Storefront mortise locks and panic hardware are part of our work. A warped or misaligned door is a common reason a key breaks, so we will check the door's fit as well as the cylinder.
Is there a shop I can bring the lock to?
No, we are fully mobile with no storefront. We bring the tools to your location in Woodland Hills, and we are available 24/7.
How do I get a quote for broken key extraction?
Call (323) 997-8867 and describe the lock, where the key broke, and how much of it is visible. Pricing depends on lock type, fragment depth, any damage, and what you need afterward, and we will go over it with you before starting.
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