What actually counts as a high security lock?
The phrase gets thrown around a lot, so here is how we use it. A high security lock is a lock built to resist the common ways locks get beaten: picking, bumping, drilling, and key copying. The difference is not the shiny finish or the price tag on the box. It is what is inside the cylinder and how the keys are controlled.
A standard hardware-store cylinder uses simple pins and a key that any copy machine can duplicate. A high security cylinder adds tighter tolerances, security pins that fight a pick, hardened inserts that slow down drilling, and in many cases a restricted keyway. A restricted keyway means the key blank is patented or tightly controlled, so nobody can walk into a kiosk and make a copy in a minute.
We install and replace these cylinders as a high security locksmith, and we will tell you straight when a lock is marketed as high security but really is not. Some products carry the label with nothing behind it. We look at the build, the grade, and the key control system before we recommend anything.
- Pick-resistant: internal design that makes manipulating the pins with picks far harder.
- Bump-resistant: designed so a bump key does not set the pins the way it does in a basic cylinder.
- Drill-resistant: hardened parts placed where a drill would normally go through.
- Restricted keys: key blanks that cannot be freely duplicated, with a record of who is authorized.
Why would a Pacoima homeowner or shop owner want one?
Most people call us for one of a few reasons. They moved into a house and have no idea how many copies of the old key exist. They had a break-in attempt and want to close the weak spot. They manage a small storefront and want to control who holds keys. Or they simply keep hearing about bump keys and want to know whether their front door is exposed.
Those are reasonable concerns, and the answer is usually that a better cylinder is one of the most cost-effective upgrades available. It does not change how the door looks. It changes how long a person with picks or a bump key needs to work at it, and whether the key in someone's pocket can be copied without your say-so.
We also want to be honest about limits. No lock is unpickable, and anyone who says so is selling something. A high security cylinder raises the effort and skill required and removes the quick, quiet methods. It works best as part of a door that is solid everywhere else, which we cover below.
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Call (213) 577-1366How do we install high security locks, step by step?
Whether you call for a single front door or several doors at a shop, the process is the same. We keep it simple and we explain each decision as we go.
- Call (213) 577-1366. A person answers any hour of any day. Tell us what the door is, what lock is on it now, and what worries you.
- We talk through the goal: stopping picking, stopping bumping, controlling key copies, or all three. That decides which cylinders make sense.
- On site, we inspect the existing hardware: the cylinder, the deadbolt body, the strike plate, the screws, and the door and frame around them.
- We explain what we found and what we recommend, including the lighter-cost option when a full replacement is not needed. You decide before any work starts.
- We install the new cylinder or lock, check that the bolt throws fully into the frame, and confirm the key operates smoothly.
- You get your keys, along with plain instructions on how restricted key copies work so you know who can authorize more.
Pick-resistant versus bump-resistant: what each one protects against
These two terms get mixed up, so it helps to separate them. Picking is manipulating the pins one at a time with tools, patiently, much like a locksmith would. Bumping uses a specially cut key and a quick strike to jar the pins into position all at once. Different attacks, and good cylinders are designed to address both.
Pick-resistant locks use security pins with unusual shapes that give false feedback to a pick, along with tight machining that leaves little room to work. Bump-resistant locks use features that disrupt how the pins react to impact, or a different internal mechanism entirely. Many quality cylinders combine both approaches, and that is generally what we install for home security locks.
Drilling and forced entry are a third category. A hardened insert protects against drilling the cylinder face, but the larger point is that a strong cylinder in a weak door does little. A kicked door or a pried frame never touches the cylinder. That is why we always look at the strike plate, the screws, and the frame before we talk about upgrades.
- If your worry is quiet entry with no damage, focus on pick-resistant and bump-resistant cylinders.
- If your worry is key copies, focus on a restricted keyway.
- If your worry is a kicked door, focus on the strike plate, long screws, and frame reinforcement alongside the cylinder.
What affects the cost of high security lock replacement?
We do not quote numbers on a web page, because the real cost depends on your door and your goals. Here is what moves it up or down, so you can judge any quote you receive, ours included.
The cylinder itself is the biggest factor. A restricted keyway system with patented keys costs more to produce than a standard pin cylinder, and that carries through. The grade and build of the deadbolt body matter too. Sometimes only the cylinder needs to change and the existing bolt is sound, which is usually the more economical route. Other times the deadbolt is worn or poorly fitted and replacing the whole lock is the sensible call.
The number of doors matters, since a set of locks keyed alike, or a larger system with different keys for different doors, takes more planning. The condition of the door and frame matters if strike plates or bores need work. Finally, the hour matters: a scheduled visit and an after-midnight call are different situations, and we tell you what applies before we start.
If you are comparing quotes, ask each locksmith what cylinder they plan to use, whether the key is restricted, and what is included. A low-effort quote that leaves out the strike plate or key control may not be comparing like with like.
- Type of cylinder and whether the keyway is restricted
- Whether the existing deadbolt body can stay or needs replacement
- Number of doors and whether they are keyed alike or separately
- Condition of the door, frame, and strike plate
- Whether the work is scheduled or an urgent after-hours call
Locked out or need a locksmith now?
We answer around the clock, every day of the year.
Call (213) 577-1366High security locks for Pacoima homes, rentals, and storefronts
Pacoima, ZIP 91331, has a lot of small-lot single-family homes from the 1940s and 50s, along with the 1950s-era San Fernando Gardens public housing community and some newer infill townhomes. That mix shapes the work. In the postwar tracts off the Laurel Canyon Boulevard corridor, many front doors still carry original or builder-grade hardware that has been rekeyed or swapped unevenly over the decades. A high security cylinder on the front and back doors is a straightforward upgrade, and we often pair it with a new deadbolt installation when the existing bolt is tired.
Security screen doors and window grilles are common on older homes and storefronts here. They add a layer, but their latches are often the weakest piece, and a decent main lock behind a loose screen latch leaves a gap. We look at both when we are on site and can tell you if the screen latch is worth attention.
Along the Van Nuys Boulevard Mural Mile and the Glenoaks Boulevard corridor, small businesses face a different problem: many people may hold keys over the years. Restricted keys give an owner a way to say who can copy them. If a door is already damaged or sticking, storefront lock repair comes first, then we move to the cylinder upgrade.
Near the San Fernando Gardens area, we also see questions about rental units where tenants change often. A restricted-key cylinder can be rekeyed between tenants without replacing the lock, which is where lock rekeying and high security hardware work together. Around the Whiteman Airport district and the Paxton Street edge near Hansen Dam, people with gates, outbuildings, and hangar-area access ask about the same thing: a lock that is difficult to pick and keys that are hard to copy. For gate hardware itself, see gate lock repair.
Climate matters here too. Pacoima is one of the hotter parts of the Valley in summer, and Santa Ana winds funnel through the nearby passes. Heat and dry wind age door seals, weatherstripping, and exposed hardware. Good cylinders are built to cope, but we check finishes, springs, and latches on older hardware, because a sticky bolt is more likely to get left unlocked. We are about 19 miles from Pacoima at our Westwood storefront, and our mobile vans come to you.
Commercial security locks and restricted key control
Commercial security locks are a bigger conversation than a single cylinder. A shop owner usually needs to know who has keys, whether an employee who left still holds one, and how to add or remove people without changing every lock.
A restricted keyway helps because copies need authorization. For businesses with several doors and several staff, a master key system lets one key open what a person needs to open while other doors stay off limits. That kind of planning is part of what a commercial locksmith does, and we are happy to do the planning with you before anything is installed.
We also keep this page focused. Panic hardware, door closers, and electronic access control are separate subjects, and each has its own page. If a job needs several of them, we handle it as one visit under one company, and David reviews the plan.
Locked out or need a locksmith now?
We answer around the clock, every day of the year.
Call (213) 577-1366Why call Wilshire Lock & Key for high security work?
We have been in business since 1987. We run a storefront at 10740 Wilshire Blvd in Westwood and mobile service vans, and we serve 140 cities across Los Angeles and Ventura counties. When you call (213) 577-1366, you reach our company, not a dispatch broker who sends the job to whoever picks up. David, the owner and lead technician, oversees the work.
On the license question: California requires locksmith companies to hold a BSIS LCO license, and you should ask any locksmith for it before they touch your door. That applies to us and everyone else. Ask for the number, and check it with the state.
If you are locked out while deciding on an upgrade, that is a separate urgent job and we can help through our emergency locksmith service. Landlords with several units can also read about locksmith services for landlords.
- Since 1987, with a Westwood storefront and mobile vans
- One company from phone call to finished work, with no middleman dispatch
- David's oversight on the plan and the installation
- Phones answered 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, year-round
- Plain explanations of what is needed and what is not
How to get started
Call (213) 577-1366 any time. Tell us what door you are thinking about, what lock is there now, and what you want it to resist. If you have the brand name on the existing lock, that helps, but it is not required. We will tell you what we would look at and what a visit involves.
If you are not sure you need high security hardware at all, we will say so. For some doors, rekeying or a sturdier strike plate is enough, and we would rather tell you that than sell more than the door calls for.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a high security lock and a regular deadbolt?
A regular deadbolt uses a basic pin cylinder and keys that can be copied almost anywhere. A high security lock adds pick-resistant and bump-resistant internal features, hardened parts to resist drilling, and often a restricted keyway so copies need authorization. It does not make a door impossible to defeat, but it removes the quick, quiet methods.
Are high security locks really bump-resistant?
Good ones are built to resist bumping, which is why we say bump-resistant rather than bump-proof. The design disrupts how the pins respond to a bump key. We choose cylinders with that in mind and will tell you honestly if a product claims more than its build supports.
Can you upgrade just the cylinder, or do I need a whole new lock?
Often the cylinder alone can be replaced if the deadbolt body is sound and fits well. That is usually the more economical route. If the bolt is worn, the door is misaligned, or the hardware is poor, replacing the full lock makes more sense. We inspect before we recommend.
Will a high security lock fit my older Pacoima home's door?
In most cases yes. Homes from the 1940s and 50s usually accept standard bore sizes, though some doors have been drilled unevenly over the years. We check the bore, door thickness, and strike plate on site. If the door itself needs work, we say so before starting.
Can I still get spare keys made for a restricted key?
Yes, but only through the authorized process. That is the point of a restricted keyway. The key blanks are controlled, so copies are made with the right authorization rather than at a kiosk. We explain how it works for your system when we install it.
Do high security locks help with security screen doors and window grilles?
Not directly. The cylinder protects the main door. Security screens and grilles have their own latches, which are often the weak point on older homes and storefronts. We can look at both on the same visit and tell you if the screen latch needs attention.
How much do high security locks cost?
It depends on the cylinder type, whether the keyway is restricted, how many doors you have, the condition of the door and frame, and whether the work is scheduled or after hours. We explain the factors and the options before work begins so you can choose.
Do you install high security locks for businesses and rental units?
Yes. Shop owners often want restricted keys to control copies, and landlords like cylinders that can be rekeyed between tenants. For larger setups we can plan a key system across several doors. Call (213) 577-1366 and describe the building.
Is your company a licensed locksmith?
California requires locksmith companies to hold a BSIS LCO license, and you should ask any locksmith for their number before work begins and verify it with the state. Please ask us the same question when you call (213) 577-1366.
Can you come out at night or on weekends?
Yes. Our phones are answered 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, year-round at (213) 577-1366. If a lock has failed or a door will not secure, call and we will work out the next step with you.
More locksmith help in Pacoima
High Security Locks near Pacoima
Reviewed by David, Owner & Lead Technician, Wilshire Lock & Key — in the locksmith trade since 1987.
Last updated 2026-10-11.