What counts as a high security lock, and does a Malibu home need one?
A high security lock is built to resist the specific ways ordinary locks get beaten: picking, bumping, drilling, forced turning and unauthorized key copying. Most of that work happens in the cylinder, the part your key slides into, and in the key itself. A standard hardware-store cylinder has loose tolerances and simple pin tumblers. A high security cylinder uses tighter machining, specialty pins, extra locking elements, hardened inserts and, in many cases, a restricted keyway that keeps copies under control.
Does every door in Malibu need one? No. An interior closet or a hall door does not. The doors that earn the upgrade are exterior doors on homes that sit empty for part of the year, beach houses, rentals with many guests, estates with valuables inside, and storefronts. When standard hardware is enough for a door, we will tell you so. That is the honest answer, and it is usually the more economical route.
This page covers the cylinders, the high security deadbolts that hold them and the key systems that go with them. If you only need a standard deadbolt added, that is a separate job, covered on our deadbolt installation page.
Why do standard locks fall short?
Most break-ins at a residential door are not dramatic. Someone defeats the cylinder quietly, uses a key that should never have existed or attacks a weak door and frame. A basic lock leaves each of those paths open.
In Malibu there is one more problem that has nothing to do with burglars. Fog, the persistent marine layer and salt air eat exterior metal faster than it wears out inland. A cheap cylinder that starts to corrode will stick, then bind, then eventually fail at the worst moment.
- Picking: standard pin tumbler cylinders can be opened by a trained person with simple tools, because the tolerances are loose and the pins are plain.
- Bumping: a specially cut key can be struck to jump the pins in a basic cylinder. Many homeowners have never heard of it, and it works on a lot of ordinary locks.
- Key copying: a common key blank can be duplicated at almost any kiosk, so you lose track of who holds a working key.
- Forced entry: drilling, prying and kicking go after the cylinder, the bolt, the strike plate and the frame together.
- Corrosion: coastal air attacks the finish, the internals and the screws, and damp swells wood doors until the lock strains.
Pick-resistant, bump-resistant and drill-resistant: what is the difference?
These terms get used as if they mean the same thing. They don't, and a good lock addresses more than one.
One honest caveat: no lock is unbeatable. A strong cylinder in a thin door or a loose frame is money wasted, because a thief will attack the weakest point. That is why we look at the entire door opening before we recommend anything.
- Pick-resistant locks use security pins, tight tolerances and sometimes a second locking mechanism, such as a side bar, so that picking tools cannot easily set the lock.
- Bump-resistant locks add features that defeat the jumping action of a bump key, so striking the cylinder does not release it.
- Drill-resistant locks put hardened steel inserts in the places an attacker would drill, so the cylinder keeps holding.
- Restricted keyways use key blanks that are not sold openly, so copies require authorization and are not made casually.
- Reinforced strike plates, longer screws and sound hinges make the surrounding door and frame match the lock.
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Call (213) 577-1366How does high security lock installation work, step by step?
Whether it is a first-time upgrade or a high security lock replacement on a worn-out deadbolt, the process is the same. Our mobile vans bring the common parts, so many jobs finish in one visit.
- You call (213) 577-1366 and describe the door, the lock you have now and what worries you, such as lost keys, a rental, a break-in nearby or a corroded lock.
- We come to the property and inspect the door, frame, strike plate, hinges and any existing hardware. We check for swelling, rust and loose fasteners, since they limit how well a new lock performs.
- We explain the options for the cylinder, the deadbolt body and the key system, and we go over what will drive the cost before any work starts.
- We install or replace the lock, reinforce the strike and frame where needed and make sure the bolt throws cleanly without forcing.
- We test the operation from both sides, confirm the keys work smoothly and explain how additional keys are ordered under your key control rules.
What affects the cost of high security lock installation?
We don't quote numbers on a web page, because the honest price depends on your doors. We can explain what moves it up or down, so the figure we give you in person makes sense.
Sometimes you do not need the whole lockset replaced. Upgrading only the cylinder in a sound deadbolt is usually the more economical route, and we will say so when it applies. Malibu is about 17 miles from our Westwood storefront, and we take that into account when scheduling the trip.
- The security level of the cylinder: stronger pick, bump and drill resistance costs more to manufacture.
- The number of doors and whether you want them all on one key.
- Whether you want a restricted key system with controlled copying and key records, or ordinary keys.
- The condition of the door, frame and strike, and whether they need reinforcement before the lock can do its job.
- The finish: corrosion-resistant hardware matters near the ocean and can change the choice of product.
- Whether the work is scheduled or an after-hours call, and the distance to your property.
What do high security locks look like in Malibu, from Malibu Colony to Point Dume?
Malibu's housing is a mix: beachfront homes packed along Pacific Coast Highway, hillside and canyon estates on large lots, and long-standing mobile-home communities such as Paradise Cove and Point Dume Club. Addresses fall within ZIP codes 90265 and 90263, and each type of property asks for something different from a lock.
Gated enclaves such as Serra Retreat and the guard-gated Malibu Colony give a sense of protection, but a gate does not replace the lock on your own front door. A beach house in Malibu Colony or on Point Dume often sits empty between visits, which is exactly the situation where a pick-resistant, bump-resistant cylinder and a restricted key are worth having. We also get lockout calls to beach houses in those areas. If you are locked out right now, our emergency locksmith service is the faster route.
Along the oceanfront, corroded deadbolts and hinges are a common reason to replace hardware. When we replace a corroded deadbolt, we recommend a high security cylinder in a corrosion-resistant finish, and we check the hinges and strike at the same time, since a rusted hinge can pull the door out of alignment and strain the lock.
A meaningful share of homes along the eastern Malibu coast are recent rebuilds after the 2018 Woolsey Fire and the January 2025 Palisades Fire. New construction is the easiest time to specify high security hardware from the start, and our lock installation team can coordinate with your builder so the right cylinders go in with the new doors.
Canyon estates off Latigo Canyon and Corral Canyon roads often have gates and keypads in addition to front doors, which is a separate repair job on our gate lock repair page. Canyon mouths also channel hot, dry Santa Ana winds that drive wildfire risk, so we usually recommend a lock that opens easily from the inside, such as a thumb-turn, so no one has to hunt for a key when leaving quickly. Doors in the mobile-home communities can differ from site-built houses, so we check what the door will accept before choosing anything.
Locked out or need a locksmith now?
We answer around the clock, every day of the year.
Call (213) 577-1366What about commercial security locks in Malibu?
Businesses face a different set of problems. Doors are used all day, keys are held by more people, and employees come and go. Storefronts at places like Malibu Country Mart and around the Civic Center area need locks that stand up to constant use as well as to tampering.
For commercial security locks, the key system matters as much as the cylinder. A restricted keyway lets a manager control who holds a key and what it opens, and a master-key arrangement can give different staff different levels of access. For the full scope of business work, see our commercial locksmith page. Here we stay focused on the cylinders and keys that make those doors harder to defeat.
How do vacation rentals and shared properties handle key control?
Rental properties near Zuma Beach and elsewhere have a problem that a single homeowner does not: keys go out to many people and may never come back. A standard key can be copied by any guest at any kiosk. A restricted key cannot be copied casually, which gives the owner real control over who holds a working copy.
If you manage rental properties, our Airbnb and vacation rental locksmith page covers turnover work between guests. If your existing locks are sound and you only want new keys cut, a lock rekey is sometimes the lighter-cost option. If you need more keys cut for a restricted system, key duplication at our shop follows the authorization rules for your key system.
Why call Wilshire Lock & Key for high security locks?
We have been in business since 1987, and we serve 140 cities across Los Angeles and Ventura counties, Malibu among them. We have a storefront at 10740 Wilshire Blvd in Westwood and mobile service vans, so you can reach a real shop and a real technician, not a call center. We are one company, with no dispatch middlemen passing your job to a stranger. David, the owner and lead technician, oversees the work.
Our phone is answered 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, year-round, at (213) 577-1366. Whether it is a planned upgrade or a late-night problem, we pick up. If it is urgent, our 24-hour emergency locksmith line is the same number.
One more thing: California requires locksmith companies to hold a BSIS LCO license. Ask any locksmith who comes to your door for their license number. A reasonable company will not hesitate to show it.
Frequently asked questions
Are high security locks worth it for a Malibu beach house?
Often yes, especially if the house sits empty between visits or is rented out. A pick-resistant, bump-resistant cylinder with a restricted key limits both forced entry and key copying. Salt air also wears out basic hardware sooner, so a better-built lock in a corrosion-resistant finish pays off in lasting longer. We will look at the door and tell you honestly whether the upgrade makes sense.
Are high security locks really pick-proof?
No lock is pick-proof, and anyone who says otherwise is selling something. Pick-resistant means the lock is much harder to pick, takes more skill and time and is more likely to defeat casual attacks. The door, frame and strike plate matter just as much, which is why we check them.
Can I copy a restricted key at a hardware store?
Generally no, and that is the point. Restricted keyways use blanks that are not sold openly, so copies require authorization. If you need more keys, call us and we will follow the rules for your particular key system.
Do you replace existing locks or only install new ones?
Both. We do high security lock replacement on doors with worn, corroded or compromised hardware, and installation on new doors, including rebuilds. In some cases, only the cylinder needs upgrading, which is usually the more economical route.
Will a high security lock hold up to salt air?
Better than a basic lock, if you choose the right finish and keep it maintained. Fog and salt air corrode exterior metal faster in Malibu, so we recommend corrosion-resistant hardware on oceanfront doors. Keeping hinges and strike plates in good shape also helps the lock work smoothly. Regular wipe-downs and the right lubricant extend its life.
Do I need a new door to get a high security lock?
Not always. Many doors accept a high security cylinder or deadbolt as long as the door and frame are sound. If the door is badly swollen, cracked or the frame is weak, we will explain what needs fixing first, since a strong lock in a weak door does not protect much.
How much do high security locks cost?
It depends on the security level, the number of doors, the key system, the finish and the condition of your door and frame. We explain these factors and give you a clear figure before any work begins, after we have seen the door.
Do you install high security locks for businesses and rentals?
Yes. We handle commercial security locks for storefronts and offices, and key-controlled systems for rentals and shared properties. The right setup depends on how many people hold keys and how often they change.
What if I lose a restricted key in the middle of the night?
Call (213) 577-1366. Our phone is answered around the clock. We will ask you to confirm you are authorized to access the property, then work out whether the lock can be re-keyed or needs replacing.
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High Security Locks near Malibu
Reviewed by David, Owner & Lead Technician, Wilshire Lock & Key — in the locksmith trade since 1987.
Last updated 2026-10-11.