Locksmith Before & After in Maryland, MD
Anyone can say they do good work. We prefer to show it. These are real jobs we’ve handled across Maryland, from century-old row houses in Baltimore to new commercial builds in Montgomery County. Each one started with a problem someone was living with and ended with a lock that works the way it should.
Recent Transformations
Failed Mortise Lock in a 1920s Fells Point Row House
The homeowner had been using the back door for six months because the front mortise lock had finally given out. The keyway was stripped, the deadbolt tongue wobbled in its pocket, and the faceplate was held on with one screw. We rebuilt the mortise box, fitted a new Baldwin entry set that matched the original brass patina, and rekeyed it to the existing house key. She walked in through her front door that evening.
Commercial Master Key System for a Columbia Medical Office
The office manager was carrying 23 keys on a ring that weighed half a pound, and still couldn’t get into the supply closet without calling maintenance. We installed a Schlage full-size interchangeable core system with four levels of keying: a master for the owner, sub-masters for department heads, and individual keys for staff. The color-coded cores mean anyone can spot a misplaced key at a glance. The old ring went in a drawer, permanently.
Automotive Key Extraction and Rekey After Break-In, Silver Spring
Someone had tried to steal a 2019 Honda Civic with a screwdriver and a blank key, leaving the ignition cylinder jammed and a key fragment lodged inside. The owner needed the car for work the next morning. We extracted the broken piece, replaced the cylinder with an OEM unit, and cut and programmed two new transponder keys in the parking lot. The old keys were invalidated in the process, so the would-be thief’s tools became worthless.
Emergency Rekey After Domestic Move-Out, Annapolis
A client in Eastport called at 9 p.m. on a Saturday. Her former partner had moved out that afternoon, and she didn’t know how many keys were floating around or who had them. We rekeyed both deadbolts that night and upgraded the front door to a Medeco restricted keyway. Now no one can walk into a hardware store and duplicate her key. The peace of mind was immediate, and the paperwork was none.
Safe Relocation and Bolt-Down for a Bethesda Home Office
The safe had been delivered to the wrong room and left sitting on carpet, which meant it could be tipped or walked out by two determined people. We moved the 450-pound unit to a corner with wall support, drilled through the carpet into the concrete subfloor, and anchored it with hidden lag bolts. The closet door opens now, and the safe stays where it belongs. The owner mentioned his insurance agent had specifically asked about anchoring.
Restaurant Rekey After Staff Turnover, Towson
A Towson restaurant had lost three managers in four months, and no one was sure who had keys to what. The back door cylinder was so worn you could turn it with a flathead screwdriver. We replaced all five entry levers with Sargent 9-Line hardware, master keyed the system so the owner carries one key, and rekeyed the remaining locks to match. The old cylinders were destroyed on-site. The kitchen manager said the new levers felt like they belonged on a bank vault.
Want Results Like These?
Every job here started with a phone call to (844) 314-7347. We’ll quote your price flat before we head out, and our technician will show up uniformed, ID in hand, ready to work. If it’s not right, we come back. That’s the 90-Day Done Right Promise, and it’s backed in writing on every invoice. Call anytime, day or night, weekend or holiday. A live person answers.
Written by Gerald Pittman, Owner at Strongbox Lock & Safe Co. of Maryland, serving Maryland since 2013.