What makes a lock a high security lock?
A high security lock is not simply a heavier lock or a shinier one. The term describes a cylinder, and usually a bolt and strike as well, built to resist the specific ways locks get defeated: picking, bumping, drilling, prying and unauthorized key copying. In practice that means tighter manufacturing tolerances, hardened inserts that stop a drill bit, security pins that make picking slow and frustrating, and very often a restricted keyway.
Restricted keys are the part customers tend to overlook. On an ordinary lock, anyone can carry your key to a kiosk and have a copy cut while they wait. A restricted key blank is controlled by the manufacturer, and duplicates are made only through an authorized channel by someone with the right credentials. That control matters if a tenant, a contractor, a former partner, a house sitter or a previous owner ever held a key to your door.
We install and replace these systems for homes, detached garages, side gates and small commercial spaces in Arleta. The rest of this page explains what the options are, how a visit works, what moves the cost, and where a high security lock helps and where it does not. If you would rather talk it through now, the line at (213) 577-1366 is answered around the clock.
Why do Arleta homeowners upgrade to high security locks?
Arleta is overwhelmingly single-family, built out in 1950s ranch tracts with driveways and detached garages, and there are relatively few multifamily buildings. Many unremodeled homes still carry their original postwar locksets and garage hardware. Those older locks were made to a much more modest standard: common keyways, basic pin tumbler cylinders, and keys that may have been duplicated through several owners over several decades. Nobody can say how many copies of an original key are sitting in drawers, old toolboxes or the pockets of people who no longer live nearby.
That is the most common reason people call us about high security locks here. They have bought a house, or inherited one, or simply realized the lock on the front door is older than they are, and they want control over who can open it. A few other situations come up again and again:
If your only goal is to make old keys stop working, a rekey is often the more economical route, and we cover it on our lock rekeying page. High security is the step up when you also want resistance to picking and bumping, and a key that cannot be freely copied.
- A recent home purchase and no way of knowing who holds keys from the previous owner
- A detached garage or workshop that holds tools, bikes or vehicles worth protecting
- A side gate or back door that gets less attention than the front but is just as easy to reach
- Signs of tampering, scratched faceplates, or a lock that has been forced before
- A rental or family property where keys have changed hands more than once
Locked out or need a locksmith now?
We answer around the clock, every day of the year.
Call (213) 577-1366How does a high security lock installation work, step by step?
The job is less about swapping a part and more about making sure the whole door does what the new lock promises. Here is how a typical visit goes.
If you happen to be locked out when you call, we deal with that first, since getting you inside comes before any upgrade; our house lockout service covers that side of it.
- You call (213) 577-1366 at any hour. Tell us which doors, garage entries and gates are involved, what locks are on them now, and what prompted the call.
- We look at the door, not only the lock: its thickness, the bore holes, the condition of the edge, the frame, the strike plate and the length of the screws holding it all together.
- We go through the cylinder and key-control options with you, including how restricted the keyway is, how many keys you need, and who is allowed to authorize copies.
- We install the new cylinder or full lock set, reinforce the strike where the frame allows it, and adjust alignment so the bolt moves cleanly without force.
- We test every lock with the door in its real working condition, closed and latched, and make sure each key operates smoothly.
- We hand over the keys, explain how to order additional ones, and tell you plainly what the new hardware does and does not protect against.
Pick-resistant, bump-resistant and drill-resistant: what does each one protect against?
These terms get used loosely, so it helps to know what each one means and what it does not. A single lock can combine several of these features, and the better ones usually do.
One thing we tell every customer: no lock is unbeatable. A high security cylinder raises the effort, noise and skill required, and takes away the quick, quiet methods. But many break-ins involve forcing a door or frame rather than manipulating the cylinder, which is why we check the strike plate, screws and frame as part of the job. A strong cylinder in a weak frame is money not well spent. If what you want is a stronger bolt on a door that currently has none, our deadbolt installation page is the better starting point, and we can combine the two.
- Pick-resistant: security pins, tighter tolerances and sometimes secondary locking elements make it far harder to manipulate the cylinder with picks and tension tools.
- Bump-resistant: a bump key is a specially cut key struck to jump the pins in a standard cylinder. Bump-resistant designs use internal features that do not respond to that kind of impact.
- Drill-resistant: hardened steel inserts in the cylinder and bolt make drilling slow and often defeat it.
- Key-controlled: a restricted keyway means copies are made only through authorized channels, not at a kiosk.
- Pull and snap resistant: some cylinders are built so that the exposed part of the lock cannot easily be twisted or snapped off.
Locked out or need a locksmith now?
We answer around the clock, every day of the year.
Call (213) 577-1366How much do high security locks cost in Arleta?
We don't quote numbers on a web page because the honest answer depends on your doors, and a flat figure would be wrong for most people. What we can do is tell you exactly what moves the cost, so the estimate you get on the phone or at the door makes sense.
We explain the scope before any work starts. If a lighter-cost option meets your actual concern, such as upgrading only the cylinder on a solid door, we will say so. If a door or frame is the weak link, we will say that too, and let you decide what to do first.
- Cylinder only or complete lock set: replacing just the cylinder in a sound deadbolt is usually the more economical route compared with new hardware throughout.
- Level of key control: a more tightly restricted keyway and tighter authorization usually costs more than a basic restricted system.
- Number of locks: front door, back door, garage entry, side gate and any outbuildings add up, and keying them all alike is an option many owners like.
- Number of keys: extra restricted keys cost more than ordinary copies, and the number you need affects the total.
- Door and frame condition: old bore holes, worn edges, loose frames or weak strike plates may need repair before a new lock can do its job.
- Door type: solid wood, hollow steel, glass-paneled and metal gate doors each need different preparation.
- Time of day: an urgent after-hours visit is priced differently from a scheduled daytime one, and we will tell you which applies.
Why call Wilshire Lock & Key for high security locks?
We have been in business since 1987, and high security hardware is something we have been installing for a long time, not a product line we picked up recently. We work from a storefront at 10740 Wilshire Blvd in Westwood, Los Angeles, and we run mobile service vans that come to you in Arleta and the rest of the 140 cities we serve across Los Angeles and Ventura counties.
You deal with one company from the first phone call to the finished install. There is no dispatch middleman reselling your job to whoever is free, so the person who knows what you asked for is the person responsible for it. David, the owner and lead technician, oversees the work, and he is the reason we stay particular about alignment, strike plates and key control rather than just swapping a part and leaving.
One practical tip that applies to any locksmith you hire: California requires locksmith companies to hold a BSIS LCO license, and you should ask to see the license number before work begins. That is a fair question for us as much as anyone else, and a company that hesitates to answer it is telling you something.
Locked out or need a locksmith now?
We answer around the clock, every day of the year.
Call (213) 577-1366What does a high security lock upgrade look like across Arleta?
Arleta sits in ZIP code 91331, and the streets inside it share a lot of the same building stock but differ in how people use them. Here is how high security work tends to play out in different parts of the neighborhood.
Along the Woodman Avenue corridor, one of the most common reasons for a call is rekeying after a home purchase. A buyer gets the keys at closing, but nobody can say how many other keys exist from previous owners, agents and workers. Moving from ordinary keys to a restricted keyway turns that uncertainty into a known quantity: only the keys you hold or authorize will work. Around the Osborne Street corridor and the Branford Street corridor, the 1950s tract homes often still have their original front door locksets, and a cylinder upgrade is the sensible place to start there. In the Canterbury Avenue area, many owners are most concerned about the detached garage and the back door rather than the front.
Toward the Terra Bella Street edge near Pacoima, and anywhere a house has a side gate or driveway gate, garage and side-gate lock replacement on single-family properties is a recurring need. Those locks live outdoors, get used constantly and are rarely thought about until something fails. A pick-resistant, key-controlled lock there protects the tools, vehicles and yard equipment that usually sit behind that gate. If a gate latch is simply worn out and not a security concern, our gate lock repair page covers that.
Climate matters too. Northeast valley heat makes summer door and frame expansion routine, and high security cylinders with tight tolerances can make a binding door more noticeable. When we install, we check how the bolt travels at the door's tightest point, and we adjust or shim where needed so the lock does not become something you fight with every August. On the plus side, the area is dry year-round with no coastal corrosion factors, so quality hardware tends to hold up well on the outside of a Arleta house.
Can the same approach protect a shop or small office?
Yes. Commercial security locks follow the same logic, with a few differences: more people hold keys, doors are used far more often, and a lost key is more than an inconvenience. Around the Osborne Street and Woodman Avenue commercial corner and anywhere else in Arleta where small businesses operate, a restricted keyway lets the owner control who can copy a key, which is particularly useful with staff turnover.
If you need several doors to work under different levels of access, a master key system built on high security cylinders lets each person open only what they should. For storefronts, back doors, offices and equipment rooms, our commercial locksmith team handles the full range of door hardware. Keep in mind that fire and egress rules apply to commercial doors, so security hardware has to work with exit requirements, not against them.
Locked out or need a locksmith now?
We answer around the clock, every day of the year.
Call (213) 577-1366What should you check before buying any high security lock?
Whether you buy from us or someone else, these are the questions that separate a real upgrade from an expensive-looking one. We are happy to answer every one of them about our own work.
If you are considering electronic options, a smart lock installation is a different product with a different set of tradeoffs. Many owners keep a high security mechanical cylinder as the backbone and add convenience on top. If an existing lock is simply worn out or failing, our lock replacement page explains that route.
- Who authorizes duplicate keys, and what do they require before making one?
- Is the keyway restricted by the manufacturer, or is it just a less common keyway anyone can buy blanks for?
- What tested standards does the bolt and cylinder meet, and can they show you the rating?
- Will the door, frame and strike plate support the lock, or will the weak point just move elsewhere?
- What happens if you lose a key or need more of them later?
- Can the installer show you a BSIS LCO license number?
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a high security lock and a regular deadbolt?
A regular deadbolt mostly controls how the door bolts into the frame. A high security lock focuses on the cylinder as well: pick-resistant and bump-resistant internals, hardened parts to resist drilling, and usually a restricted key that cannot be freely copied. We often install the two together on the same door, since the strongest bolt still depends on a cylinder that is hard to defeat.
Are pick-resistant locks really unpickable?
No lock is unpickable, and anyone who says otherwise is selling something. Pick-resistant cylinders make picking much slower, more difficult and less likely to succeed with common tools and methods. They take away the quick, quiet options. Combined with a solid door and frame, that is a meaningful improvement for a home.
Can I get extra copies of a restricted key?
Yes, but not at a hardware store kiosk. Restricted keys are copied through an authorized channel and usually require the owner or an authorized person to request them. That is deliberate, since it is what stops quiet duplication. We explain the process for your specific lock when we install it, so you know how to order more later.
Will a high security lock fit my older Arleta door?
Often yes. Many 1950s tract homes have standard bore holes that accept modern cylinders and deadbolts. We check the door thickness, bore size, edge and frame before recommending anything. Sometimes the door needs a small repair or the strike needs reinforcing first, and we will say so before starting.
Is a high security lock the same as rekeying?
No. Rekeying changes the internal pins of your existing lock so old keys stop working and new keys take over. A high security lock replaces the cylinder with one built to resist picking, bumping and drilling, usually with a restricted keyway. Rekeying is often the more economical route when the lock is sound and you only need new keys. High security is the better choice when you also want stronger resistance and key control.
Can you install high security locks at night or on weekends?
We answer the phone 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, year-round, at (213) 577-1366. If your situation is urgent, such as a forced door or a lost key you can't account for, we can come out outside normal hours. Scheduled upgrades can be planned for a time that suits you. After-hours visits are priced differently, and we will tell you which applies before we start.
Do high security locks work with smart locks or garage and gate hardware?
Many do. A high security mechanical cylinder can serve as the keyed backup on some smart lock setups, and restricted-key padlocks and gate locks are available for side gates and outbuildings. Compatibility depends on the specific products, so tell us what you have and we will confirm what fits before installing.
Should I ask my insurance company before upgrading my locks?
It is a reasonable thing to do. Some insurers have requirements or may take security upgrades into account, but policies differ, and we can't speak for yours. Ask your insurer what they look for, then tell us, and we will help you choose hardware that meets it.
Do you serve all of Arleta, including ZIP 91331?
Yes. Our mobile vans cover Arleta and the surrounding area, including everything in ZIP code 91331, as part of our service to 140 cities across Los Angeles and Ventura counties. Call (213) 577-1366 and tell us the street or nearest cross street so we can plan the visit.
More locksmith help in Arleta
High Security Locks near Arleta
Reviewed by David, Owner & Lead Technician, Wilshire Lock & Key — in the locksmith trade since 1987.
Last updated 2026-10-11.