Broken Key Extraction
A snapped key lodged inside a lock is one of those situations that feels catastrophic at first — particularly if it happens on a cold evening in a Cambridge terrace or on the communal entrance of a block of flats off Mill Road. The good news is that, in most cases, the fragment can be removed cleanly without replacing the lock at all. Chesterton Locksmith is a 24/7 mobile service covering Cambridge and the surrounding area, and our trained, insured technicians carry out snapped key removals from nightlatches, 5-lever mortice deadlocks, and euro cylinders every single day.
Open 24 hours, 7 days a week · Fully insured
The key word is 'without damage'. Because we come to you fully equipped — no waiting for a workshop to open, no dragging your door off its hinges — we can usually free the broken piece and have you back inside within the hour, the lock still intact and working. What follows explains exactly how different lock types behave when a key snaps inside them, what our technicians do at each stage, and why attempting a DIY recovery can turn a straightforward job into an expensive one.
What we do
Available 24/7
Day, night, weekends and bank holidays — a real local locksmith answers and sends a fully-stocked van.
We come straight away
Based in Cambridge, we send a locksmith straight away — we're usually with you in about 30 minutes.
Fully insured
Vetted locksmiths, a clear price on the phone, and no surprise add-ons when we arrive.
Damage-free entry
We pick and bypass locks the right way, so most lockouts are solved without drilling anything.
Frequently asked questions
Can you remove a broken key without replacing the lock?
In the majority of cases, yes. Our technicians use purpose-made extraction tools sized to the specific keyway — nightlatch, mortice, or euro cylinder — and the aim is always to retrieve the fragment cleanly so the lock continues to work normally. We will only recommend a replacement if, once the key is out, we find the lock itself has underlying wear or damage that makes it unsafe or unreliable to leave in place. If that happens, we explain what we have found and give you a clear up-front quote before proceeding.
What factors affect the price of a broken key removal in Cambridge?
The final quote depends on the type of lock involved, the time of day (evenings, weekends, and bank holidays are considered), travel distance from our current position, and whether any replacement parts turn out to be necessary once we have assessed the job on site. We confirm an exact price with you over the phone before anyone is dispatched, so there are no unexpected costs when the job is done.
My key snapped flush with the face of the lock — is that harder to remove?
It can be more fiddly than a break that leaves a small section protruding, but it is well within what our trained technicians handle routinely. With a flush break, there is no grip point for basic tools, so we use hooked extraction picks that work inside the keyway alongside the blade. The key is working patiently and methodically rather than rushing — forcing anything at this stage risks pushing the fragment deeper, which is why we strongly advise against attempting DIY recovery with hairpins or similar improvised tools.
I live in a block of flats — does that affect how you approach the job?
Not significantly in terms of technique, though it is worth knowing that many Cambridge blocks of flats have a communal entrance with its own lock as well as an individual flat door. If the break has happened in the communal door cylinder, we will treat that sensitively — communal locks affect all residents, so we work as quietly and quickly as possible. For individual flat doors, the process is exactly the same as a house. If a managing agent or landlord needs to be contacted first to verify access rights, we are happy to wait while you make that call.
Should I try to remove the broken key myself before calling you?
We understand the instinct, but we would advise against it. The most common DIY attempts — inserting a stiff wire, a knife blade, or a small screwdriver — either push the fragment further into the keyway or score the internal surfaces of the lock in ways that complicate professional extraction. If the break has happened in a euro cylinder, there is also a risk of dislodging internal components. The safest approach is to leave the fragment exactly where it is, avoid inserting anything else into the keyway, and call 01223 912859. We are usually with you in around 30 minutes.
My euro cylinder is old and has snapped before — should I upgrade it at the same visit?
If your cylinder is not an anti-snap model, we would recommend at least discussing an upgrade while we are there. Standard cylinders without an anti-snap feature are a known vulnerability on uPVC and composite doors — the cylinder can be snapped off deliberately in seconds using commonly available tools, giving a burglar direct access to the locking mechanism. TS007 3-star anti-snap cylinders are designed to defeat this attack, and many home insurance policies in Cambridge now specifically ask for them. We carry suitable replacements in our mobile units, so if you decide to go ahead, it can be done on the same visit with no second call-out needed.