What actually makes a lock high security?
A standard hardware-store deadbolt keeps honest people honest. It uses a simple pin-tumbler cylinder, a common keyway that anyone can buy blanks for, and a key that can be copied at any kiosk. A high security lock changes those three things. The cylinder is built to resist picking and bumping, the keyway is controlled, and the key cannot be duplicated casually.
When someone asks us for high security lock installation, we are usually talking about a combination of features rather than one magic part. Here is what we look for when we choose hardware:
- Pick-resistant internals: security pins, tighter tolerances, and in many designs a second locking element such as a side bar, so a pick has more than one thing to defeat.
- Bump-resistant design: cylinders built so the familiar bump-key technique does not line up the pins the way it does on an ordinary lock.
- Drill and force resistance: hardened inserts in the cylinder face and a stronger bolt, because many break-ins ignore the cylinder and attack the hardware around it.
- Restricted keys: key blanks that are controlled by the manufacturer or dealer, so copies require authorization rather than a trip to a hardware counter.
- Solid grade ratings: a heavy-duty commercial-grade body, not a light residential one, matched to a door and strike that can carry the load.
Why Beverly Hills homes and businesses ask for pick-resistant locks
Most of our high security work in Beverly Hills starts with a specific situation rather than a general worry. A household has had staff, contractors or vendors come and go and wants to know who still holds a working key. A homeowner notices the original lockset on a 1920s door is worn and wants something that does more than turn a bolt. A shop owner wants the entry hardware to match the value of what is inside. A landlord wants keys that tenants cannot copy at will.
In each case the real problem is key control as much as lock strength. A lock that resists picking but uses a key anyone can copy only solves half of it. That is why we talk about the cylinder and the key system together, and why we ask who needs access, how many keys exist today, and how comfortable you are with those numbers before recommending anything.
We will also be straight with you when high security is not the right spend. If the door itself is thin, the frame is cracked, or the strike plate is held by short screws, upgrading the cylinder alone will not change how the door performs against force. Sometimes the most useful advice is to fix the door first.
Locked out or need a locksmith now?
We answer around the clock, every day of the year.
Call (213) 577-1366How we handle a high security lock installation, step by step
Whether you call at midday or well after dark, the process follows the same logic. We would rather spend a few minutes understanding the setup than push hardware that does not fit.
- You call (213) 577-1366 and tell us what you have: front door, side door, gate, storefront, or several entries. We ask about the door type, the current lock brand if you know it, and what prompted the upgrade.
- We look at the door in person. We check the thickness, the bore holes, the frame, the strike plate and the screws, because a high security cylinder is only as good as the door it sits in.
- We explain your options in plain terms: which cylinders resist picking and bumping, which key systems are restricted, and what each choice means for getting extra keys later.
- We install the hardware. That can mean replacing the whole deadbolt, swapping only the cylinder where the existing body is sound, or fitting new mortise hardware, depending on what the door can take.
- We reinforce what needs it, such as a longer strike plate screw or a better-seated strike, so the lock is not undermined by the weakest part of the doorway.
- We test every key and the full throw of the bolt, hand you the keys with the key-control rules explained, and tell you how to order authorized copies if you need them.
Restricted keys: who controls the copies?
The key is the part most people overlook. On a restricted system, the blank is not sold openly, and duplicates require proof that you are authorized. That might mean a key card, an authorization from the account holder, or a process run through us as the dealer. The details depend on the system we install, and we explain the rules for your specific cylinder before you decide.
The trade-off is honest and worth stating: restricted keys are harder to copy, which is the point, but that also means a spare takes more than a quick stop at a kiosk. If you manage a household with several adults, or a business with staff on different schedules, plan the number of keys you need up front. For ordinary copies of standard keys, see our key duplication service.
If a restricted key is lost, the practical answer is often to re-key the cylinder to a new key rather than hope nobody finds it. We can talk through that choice with you at the time, and our lock rekeying page explains how that process works in general.
Locked out or need a locksmith now?
We answer around the clock, every day of the year.
Call (213) 577-1366What affects the cost of high security lock work?
We do not quote prices on a web page, because the honest answer depends on the door and the system. We can tell you what moves the cost up or down, so there are no surprises when we give you a figure in person or over the phone.
- The cylinder or system you choose. Pick-resistant and bump-resistant designs vary a great deal in build, key control and manufacturer, and that affects what you pay.
- How many locks are involved. One front door is a different job from an estate with several exterior doors, a side entrance and a gate.
- Whether you want everything keyed alike. A single key for multiple doors takes planning at install time and is usually more economical than adding it later.
- The condition of the door and frame. Reinforcement, a new strike or repairs to a damaged bore add work but make the upgrade worth doing.
- New hardware versus cylinder-only changes. Where the existing lock body is sound, swapping the cylinder is usually the lighter-cost option; where it is worn or low grade, replacing the whole set makes more sense.
- Mortise hardware. Older mortise locks need different parts and more hands-on fitting than a modern bored deadbolt.
- Extra keys and key-control paperwork. Restricted systems may involve authorization steps that standard keys do not.
- Time of day. We are available around the clock, and after-hours or urgent work can be priced differently from a scheduled visit.
How does this look across Beverly Hills neighborhoods?
Beverly Hills is not one kind of building, and the right high security setup changes depending on where you are. North of Santa Monica Boulevard, the stock is dominated by large 1920s-onward estates in Spanish Colonial Revival, Mediterranean and traditional styles. In The Flats, one scenario we see is high-security rekeying after household staff or vendor turnover, where the goal is simple: make sure every old key stops working, and move to a restricted system so new keys do not spread. In older Spanish Colonial Revival homes, we often work with mortise hardware, and a worn mortise lock in a 1920s door may need repair before or alongside any upgrade. Our lock repair page covers that side of the work.
Trousdale Estates is a distinct 1950s–60s mid-century enclave, and estate properties there commonly pair high-security deadbolts and mortise hardware with driveway gates, intercoms and monitored access. For these properties we think about the whole entry sequence, not just the front door. A restricted cylinder on the house door is a good start, but the gate and its adjacent hardware often deserve the same attention, and we cover that on our gate lock repair page.
South of Wilshire, the city shifts to duplexes, condominiums and apartment buildings from the 1930s through the 1970s. Here, high security work looks different: a restricted deadbolt on a unit door, a better cylinder on a shared entry, or a key system that a building owner can actually control. Condo and duplex lockouts are common in that part of town, and a lock that is hard to pick is also a lock we need to treat with care when opening it for you, which is why we verify who you are before we do any work.
We serve all three Beverly Hills ZIP codes, 90210, 90211 and 90212, and we also work in the adjacent areas that people often think of as Beverly Hills, including Benedict Canyon, the Coldwater Canyon area on the northern hillside, and the Beverly Hills Post Office area, which sits in the City of LA but carries a 90210 ZIP. Beverly Hills is about four miles from our Westwood storefront at 10740 Wilshire Blvd, so it is part of our home territory.
On the weather side, Beverly Hills sits inland of the strongest marine influence, with warm, dry summers. Hillside and canyon sections get strong sun that fades and dries exterior door finishes. The effect on hardware is modest, but when we replace a lock on a sun-baked door, we will often point out finish wear so you can decide whether to refinish while the old hardware is off.
Locked out or need a locksmith now?
We answer around the clock, every day of the year.
Call (213) 577-1366Commercial security locks for Rodeo Drive and the Golden Triangle
Boutique storefront lock service is a regular part of our Beverly Hills work, along Rodeo Drive and throughout the Golden Triangle business district. A shop has different needs from a home. The door gets opened and closed all day, staff come and go, and the hardware has to look right as well as hold up.
For commercial security locks, we think about three things. First, key control: who can copy a key, and what happens when an employee leaves. Second, durability: a commercial-grade cylinder and bolt that can handle constant use. Third, a way to scale the system: one key for the owner, limited keys for staff, and a plan that does not break down as the business grows. That last piece is where a master key system often fits.
If your issue is a storefront door that is damaged, misaligned or failing rather than an upgrade you are planning, our storefront lock repair page is the better place to start. High security is the right call once the door itself is sound.
Why call Wilshire Lock & Key for high security work?
We are a real company with a real storefront at 10740 Wilshire Blvd in Westwood, and we have been in business since 1987. We also run mobile service vans, so most of this work happens at your door rather than ours. When you call (213) 577-1366, you reach us, not a national dispatch center that passes your job to whoever is free.
David, the owner and lead technician, oversees the work. That matters for a job like this because high security hardware is unforgiving of rushed fitting. A cylinder that is slightly misaligned or a strike that is set a few millimeters off can make a good lock feel bad and wear out faster.
We answer 24 hours a day, seven days a week, year-round, and we serve 140 cities across Los Angeles and Ventura counties. If a locked-out or failed-lock situation turns into an emergency, our emergency locksmith service is the right place to start, and we can often talk about the upgrade once you are back inside.
How to check any locksmith before they touch your locks
California requires locksmith companies to hold a BSIS LCO license, issued through the Bureau of Security and Investigative Services. Ask any locksmith for that license number before work begins, and check it on the state's lookup tool. This matters more for high security work, because you are handing someone control of how your keys are made and who can copy them.
Beyond the license, a few questions help. Will the technician explain exactly which cylinder and key system they are installing? Will they tell you how restricted copies are handled? Do they inspect the door before recommending hardware? A locksmith who cannot answer those clearly is not the one to trust with your keys.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between pick-resistant and bump-resistant locks?
Picking uses tools to set the pins one at a time without the key, while bumping uses a specially cut key and a sharp tap to jar the pins into place. A high security cylinder is built to resist both, usually with security pins, tighter tolerances and often a second locking mechanism. Resistant does not mean immune, but it raises the skill, time and noise needed to defeat the lock.
Can a high security lock still be broken into?
Yes, any lock can be defeated by enough force. High security locks make covert methods like picking and bumping far harder, and many resist drilling too. Most forced entries go through the door or frame, so we also check the strike plate, screws and door condition and reinforce them where needed.
Do I need to replace my whole lock, or can you just change the cylinder?
It depends on the condition of the existing body. If the deadbolt is sound and fits a high security cylinder, swapping only the cylinder is usually the lighter-cost option. If the lock is worn, low grade or an older style, replacing the whole set often makes more sense. We look at the door and tell you honestly which route fits.
Can you upgrade an old mortise lock in a 1920s Beverly Hills home?
Often, yes. Mortise hardware in older homes can sometimes take a higher security cylinder, and sometimes the lock body needs repair or replacement first. We inspect it in person, because the right answer depends on the lock, the door and how much of the original hardware you want to keep.
Can I get extra copies of a restricted key?
Yes, but not at a hardware kiosk. Restricted blanks require authorization, and the rules depend on the system installed. We explain how copying works for your specific cylinder before we install it, so you can plan how many keys you need. For standard keys, our key duplication service handles the usual copies.
Should I rekey or install new high security locks after staff or vendor turnover?
Rekeying stops old keys from working, but if the old system uses a common keyway, copies of the new key can spread just as easily. Moving to a restricted system gives you tighter control going forward. We can talk through both options, and you can read more about rekeying separately.
Can you match high security locks across several doors and a gate?
In many cases, yes. We can often key multiple doors alike, or set up a hierarchy where some keys open everything and others open only certain doors. Gates and intercom-linked hardware need their own check, because they are built differently from a standard door lock.
Do you handle high security locks for businesses as well as homes?
Yes. We install commercial-grade, pick-resistant and bump-resistant cylinders for storefronts and offices, and we plan the key system around who works there. For general commercial work beyond high security hardware, see our commercial locksmith page.
Is it worth pairing a high security cylinder with a new deadbolt?
Often it is, because a strong cylinder in a weak bolt only goes so far. If you are replacing both, our deadbolt installation page explains the hardware side. Call (213) 577-1366 and we will look at your door and recommend what fits.
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High Security Locks near Beverly Hills
Reviewed by David, Owner & Lead Technician, Wilshire Lock & Key — in the locksmith trade since 1987.
Last updated 2026-10-11.