Locksmith faq's & advice

At Action Lock Service, we’ve met many clients who are concerned that bypassing a lock to gain entry to their car or property could end up damaging the lock. They understand that picking a lock is a complex task and aren’t sure if they’ll have to purchase a new lock afterwards.

The short answer is: When you hire an emergency locksmith in Perth from Action Lock Service, you don’t have to worry about them destroying your lock in the course of their work. But in this post, we’re going to take a closer look at some of the potential problems that could develop if a non-professional were to attempt the task.

What Can Go Wrong If a Lock Is Picked by a Non-Professional?

When you call out a locksmith to your home or business, there are a few different strategies they may employ to gain entry to your property. They may use a professional kit to pick the lock, or in some cases use a bump key. In either event, a qualified emergency locksmith in Perth should be able to open your lock without doing any damage to its internal locking mechanism.

But this doesn’t mean that damage will never occur when you attempt to pick a lock. On the contrary, someone without the skills or experience of a professional locksmith could easily harm the lock’s contents.

For example, in pin tumbler locks, it is possible to pop the spring caps off and possibly damage them. It is also possible for cylinder springs to get caught in the plug chamber – especially when the driver pins are too short.

There are other issues to keep in mind as well. When it turns inside a cylinder, the key itself physically stops the pins from dropping down into the keyway. Were they to find their way into this channel, turning the cylinder could end up snapping or bending them. This is a concern when you are picking a lock, as there is nothing but the locksmith’s deft hand to prevent those pins from doing just that.

There Are Some Instances When Locksmiths Must Damage Locks

It is worth noting that there are some instances in which opening a lock requires damaging it. Situations like this are relatively rare, and the competent locksmiths from Action Lock Service do everything in their power to avoid them. However, it is sometimes unavoidable.

In the event that they are required to drill into the lock in order to open it, they will clear this with you first and offer follow-up replacement services. By the time the procedure is complete, you will have gained access to your property and have an entirely new lock in place to continue protecting your property.

Where Can I Find a Professional Locksmith Near Me?

If you are looking for an emergency locksmith in the Perth metropolitan area, Action Lock Service is the team to turn to. We can dispatch a highly skilled locksmith directly to your vehicle or property to ensure that you can regain entry without doing any unnecessary damage to the locking mechanism. If you would like to learn more about the care we take when opening locks, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with our team via the ‘Contact Us’ page.

Locksmiths are there to help you gain access to your property or vehicle when you’ve locked yourself out – but that’s barely scratching the surface of what they can do for you. Here is a comprehensive list of all the situations when you can (and should) call a locksmith:

You’ve Lost Your Key.


There’s nothing quite as frustrating as losing a key – let alone an entire set of them. But don’t despair. Everyone loses keys and other important items at some point or another. Fortunately, a skilled locksmith can come to where you are at any hour of the day and make a new key in short order.

You’ve Locked Your Key in the House.


Sometimes, it’s not that you’ve lost your key. In fact, you know precisely where it is – right on the other side of that locked door.

You’ve Locked Your Key in the Car.


We’ve all experienced that sinking feeling. You can see your keys dangling from the ignition, but the door is locked and there’s no getting it open. Maybe you’ve even left the car idling in the ultimate display of absentmindedness. A mobile locksmith is exactly what you need in this situation.

The Key Has Snapped in the Lock.


Keys and locks wear out over time, and this can sometimes lead to a snapped key stuck in a lock. The good news is that a competent locksmith can remove the broken end from the lock and originate a new master key – even if the original is in pieces.

You’ve Forgotten the Safe Combination.


Safe’s can be like that email address that you only log in to check once or twice per year. When it comes time to access it, you simply can’t remember the combination. If you urgently need it open, a 24/7 locksmith can assist.

You’ve Just Purchased a New House.


This is something that simply cannot be stressed enough. If you’ve purchased a new property – be it a home or business – the first order of business should be to change all the locks. Call out a locksmith for a quick security audit and a new set of locks that are guaranteed not to have duplicate keys floating around out there.

Someone Has Broken into Your Property.


When a property is broken into, the first thing to do is notify the authorities. The second is to change all of the locks. In Australia, 20 per cent of houses that are broken into once is then burgled again. Assume that they got hold of a spare key, and protect your property from a future intrusion.

You Want to Enhance Your Property’s Security.


Following on from the previous point, it never hurts to call out a locksmith to see if your home or office could be made more secure. There are hundreds of thousands of burglaries and attempted break-ins in Australia each year. A qualified locksmith can help prevent your property from becoming a statistic.

Have you found yourself in any of the above situations? Action Lock Service can assist. Call us on 08 9240 7200 to order a 24-hour locksmith to your location now, or send us an enquiry via the Contact page to learn more.

Whether you are locked out of your house or you have lost the keys to your car and you need to get somewhere in a hurry, an emergency locksmith in Perth can help. Fully trained professionals are able to deal with all kinds of locks, from those commonly found on cars to the type of locks used to secure residential properties, garages and office blocks.
However, before you call for help, it is important to remember that only fully qualified and experienced locksmiths can be trusted to provide you with a fast, efficient service and to perform all work to the highest standards. With this in mind, you should ensure that any residential or commercial locksmith you engage is a member of the Master Locksmiths Association of Australasia (MLAA). Members of the MLAA adhere to a strict code of practice at all times and can, therefore, be relied upon to provide a highly professional service, whatever your needs may be.

If you make sure the commercial or residential locksmith you call is a member of the MLAA and has many years of experience, they should be able to help you in all of the following situations:

Locked out of House

All experienced locksmiths should be able to provide replacement keys for residential locks, install new locks if desired, and help you to gain entry in an emergency should you happen to lose your keys.

Locked Keys in Car

All reputable companies that have been established for a number of years should be able to provide you with a competitively priced auto locksmith service in the event you lock yourself out of your car. Most will be able to supply and install modern locking systems and the smart keys that are used to open them too.

Locked out of Office

If you are the only readily-available key holder and you have mislaid your set of keys, an experienced professional should be able to help you gain entry within the hour so there is no need to take any drastic measures if you find yourself in this situation.

Unable to Open Safe

Call a reputable MLAA member and you will normally find they have a highly-skilled safe locksmith who can help you to get at your valuables in the event you lose a key, forget a combination or damage a safe lock in some way.

Digital Lock Malfunction

Many modern premises have digital locks installed, both to make them more secure and to make entry and exit more convenient for those who work in them. Occasionally, these systems may malfunction and when they do, the first thing you need to ask yourself is: what locksmith near me can help resolve this issue? The answer, of course, is a qualified member of the MLAA.

Whether you are searching for a skilled car locksmith, a company that can fix your garage door remote, or an experienced professional to advise on security measures, call Action Lock Service today!

Not every situation calls for a mobile locksmith. There are certainly times when you can actually visit the locksmith’s shop – most notably when you simply want to have duplicate keys made from existing originals. But most lock-and-key emergencies call for a locksmith who is ready and waiting to travel to where you are to provide you with on-the-spot emergency service.

With that in mind, we’re going to explore a few of the most common situations that require the assistance of a locksmith who can come to where you are. In any of these situations, you’ll be glad that you knew who to call without having to waste time searching through online directories or the phone book.

Call a Mobile Locksmith When You’re Locked Out of Your Home or Office.

Whether you’ve lost your keys, locked them inside the house or found yourself in need of a spare that you don’t have, a mobile locksmith can set things right in short order. If your property is located in the Perth metropolitan area, Action Lock Service can typically dispatch a highly skilled professional to your property in 15 to 30 minutes.

From there, it will take somewhere between 10 minutes and half an hour for the locksmith to pick the lock and gain access to the property. If you’ve lost the key, they can rekey the lock if you are confident that the original has not fallen into the wrong hands.

If, on the other hand, you’re honestly not sure what happened to your key, then they can arrange to change the locks for you on the spot. This is the best course of action if, for example, you lost your keys in a public place or fear that they might have fallen out of your pocket.

Keys Locked in Your Car? A 24/7 Locksmith Can Save the Day.

Nothing is more frustrating than realising that you’ve locked your keys in your car, with the spare back at home where it’s doing you absolutely no good whatsoever. The good news is that this is precisely the sort of situation that the emergency locksmiths at Action Lock Service specialise in setting right.

If you’re stranded outside of your vehicle away from home, then it’s safe to say that you require urgent attention. People who are locked out of their vehicles can easily become the victim of harassment or even theft.

That’s why it’s important to make sure you know who offers fast, professional service in your area.

Add Action Lock to Your Contacts Now.

No one ever intends to lock themselves out of their home, office or vehicle. With that in mind, it’s important to plan ahead so that you know which mobile, 24-hour locksmith to call if an emergency arises. If you live in Perth, save Action Lock Services as a contact in your phone (08 9240 7200) ahead of time so that you’ll have it when you need it. And please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us via the Contact Us page if you have any questions.

That depends on where you’re located in the Perth Metropolitan Area. As we offer an emergency service after hours, Action Lock’s qualified locksmiths are only ever a phone call away and respond to call out requests immediately, ensuring you’re able to gain entry to your home or workplace at any time of the day or night. If you have any questions about the locksmithing services that we provide and why it’s advisable to have a qualified locksmith gain entry to your home, replace the locks or install a new garage remote, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with the team.

Many people use the services of local handymen instead of qualified locksmiths believing that they’ll get the job done more affordably. However, as many home and business owners have realised from first-hand experience, there’s no substitute for the work that a qualified locksmith performs.

A licenced locksmith provides better quality workmanship and can provide customers with a warranty covering their workmanship and products, something that a local handyman can’t. What’s more, as qualified locksmiths are more efficient and will get the job done in a more timely manner, the higher rate they charge is offset by spending less time on the job. That means you get better quality work, workmanship and warranties that provide peace of mind at roughly the same price, but as you’re covered and needn’t pay for corrective work in the future, you’ll save money in the long run.

What Problems Could Arise by Using a Non-Qualified Locksmith?

An unqualified locksmith lacks the required skills, training, qualifications and experience to provide you with professional locksmithing work that delivers the degree of protection that you deserve. If you had a non-qualified locksmith gain entry to your property if you were locked out, they may use incorrect techniques to open the lock and damage its internal mechanisms.

This may be instantly noticeable and you can get the lock replaced straightaway, though if the damage wasn’t immediately apparent and the lock wasn’t replaced, it would compromise the security of your home and place your family at risk.

In Western Australia, all locksmiths must complete a four-year apprenticeship before they receive their full qualifications that enable them to provide professional locksmithing services to customers. At Action Lock Service in Perth, all our local locksmiths are experienced and fully qualified, having undergone the training, both onsite and in the classroom, required to become a qualified locksmith.

The Right Advice

A skilled locksmith who’s undertaken the training and hands-on work experience necessary to providing reliable locksmithing services is someone you can trust to provide you with the right advice about your locks and home security.

No matter where you reside in Perth, whether that’s Balcatta or Dalkeith, every door and window must be secure, as your overall home security is only as strong as its most vulnerable access point. That means only a licensed locksmith should be entrusted with the responsibility of advising you on your locks and home security requirements.