A copied key is only worth having if it turns the lock the first time, every time. Plenty of people in Thousand Oaks have a drawer full of spares that stick, jam, or flat-out don't work — usually because they were cut fast and never tested. We do it the other way around. We match the blank, cut to the right depths, and check the copy in the actual lock before you walk away with it.
CLS Locksmith is a mobile shop based in Thousand Oaks serving the whole of Ventura County and the Conejo Valley. We cut spare house keys, mailbox keys, office and cabinet keys, padlock keys, and more — and because we come to you, you're not driving across town to a hardware kiosk and hoping for the best. Licensed and insured, CA BSIS #LCO8562.
- Spare keys for homes, offices, cabinets, mailboxes, and padlocks
- Every copy tested in your actual lock before we leave
- Right blank matched to your brand and keyway — Kwikset, Schlage, and more
- Keys cut by code or decoded when your original is worn or missing
- Mobile service across Thousand Oaks, the Conejo Valley, and Ventura County
- Free estimates, licensed & insured, CA BSIS #LCO8562
What key duplication actually involves
Cutting a key sounds simple, and on a basic house key it usually is. But the difference between a copy that works and one that doesn't comes down to the blank and the depths. The blank has to match your key's brand and keyway — a Kwikset blank won't work in a Schlage lock, and the wrong blank gets you a key that looks right and does nothing. Then each cut has to land at the correct depth so the pins inside the lock line up. Off by a hair and the key drags or won't turn.
We cut from your original whenever we can, since copying a copy stacks up small errors until the key stops working. If your key is already worn down or your only copy is a worn one, we can often read the lock and cut a fresh key by code or by decoding the cylinder instead — which gives you a clean, accurate key instead of another tired duplicate.
When folks call us for a spare
New homeowners in Newbury Park and Westlake Village are a steady one — you close on a house, you've got the one set the previous owner left, and you want copies for the family before someone gets locked out. Landlords and property managers around the Conejo Valley call when a unit turns over. Small businesses in the Thousand Oaks Auto Mall area and along the 101 corridor need spares for new staff or a backup set for the safe.
Then there's the everyday stuff: a key snapped off, a teenager needs their own copy, a dog walker or house cleaner needs access, or you just want a hide-a-key that isn't your only key. Whatever the reason, we'll cut clean copies and test each one before we hand them over.
What to expect when we come out
We come to your home or business with the cutting gear in the van, so you're not making a trip anywhere. You hand us the key, we match the blank, cut the copy, and try it in your own lock right there. If it sticks at all, we adjust it on the spot. You get a free estimate up front, so you know the cost before we cut anything — no surprises when we're done.