Emergency Locksmith in San Jose, CA

Safety comes before the lock

Some situations need 911, not a locksmith. Call 911 first if:

• A child, a pet or a person who cannot get out is locked in a car.
• Someone inside a locked home is hurt, unresponsive or in danger.
• A break-in is happening or has just happened.

After a break-in, report it to the police before any lock work, and leave the damaged lock and frame as they are until police have seen them. Then secure the door.

What counts as urgent in San Jose

• A door that will not lock. A kicked-in frame or a broken deadbolt after a burglary leaves a home or shop open overnight.
• A tenant's safety lock change. Under Civil Code § 1941.5, a landlord must change the locks at its own expense within one day of a written request that comes with a protective order, police report or other listed documentation, when the accused person is not a tenant of the same unit. Section 1941.6 covers a restrained person who is a tenant of the same unit. This is general information, not legal advice.
• A car that must move before sweeping. Downtown, business-district and arterial streets are swept in an early-morning window from 2 a.m. to 11 a.m., and a car in a posted tow zone can be towed, not only cited. If it cannot be opened or started before the window begins, it may be cited or towed.
• A shared building door that no longer latches. In an apartment building, tell the owner or manager first, since they control the entry.

What to send first

• Whether anyone is in danger, and whether police have been called.
• Where you are: the address or nearest cross streets, plus any building or unit number.
• The door or vehicle involved and what is wrong: will not lock, will not open, or key lost.
• Photos of the damage, if it is safe to take them.

For a home, see house lockout; for a vehicle, car lockout. The emergency locksmith overview explains the service. The city rules above are also covered on the San Jose page, and the state rules on the California page.