Emergency Locksmith in Los Angeles, CA

When to call 911 instead

Some situations are for emergency services, not a locksmith.

• A break-in. If someone may still be inside, leave and call 911. Once police have been, photograph the damage and keep the report number before anything is repaired, since a landlord or property manager may ask for both.
• A child, pet or vulnerable person locked in. Whether it is a car or a house, call 911.
• Fire, smoke or a gas smell. Get out and call 911. A lock can wait.

Evacuations and garage doors

NOAA describes Santa Ana winds as often tied to the state's most destructive wildfires. The Los Angeles Fire Department's evacuation guidance says to close the garage door, leave it unlocked and disconnect the opener in case the power fails. If an evacuation order comes, leave. A stuck lock or a missing key is not a reason to stay behind. Afterward, a door that no longer latches or a keyway clogged with ash may need lock repair.

What counts as urgent

Urgent means the problem leaves people, animals or property exposed right now:

• A door forced in a break-in that can no longer be locked.
• A lockout with a bath filling or an iron plugged in inside.
• A broken gate lock on an animal-keeping lot. In Stonehurst, in Sun Valley, the 92 homes are often on animal-keeping lots, where a gate that will not close can let animals out.
• A storefront or office that cannot be secured at the end of the day.

A lock that sticks but still works, or a spare key you would like made, is not an emergency.

What to send with an urgent request

1. The neighborhood and nearest cross streets.
2. What happened, in a sentence, and whether police have been called and a report number exists.
3. Which door, gate or vehicle is involved, with a photo if you can take one safely.
4. Whether anyone is waiting outside, and site hazards such as animals loose on the property.

For a simple lockout, see house lockout. The emergency locksmith page covers the service, and Los Angeles has local notes on neighborhoods and parking.