Lock Rekey After a Break-In
A break-in leaves more behind than broken glass and a violated sense of security — it leaves every lock that a stranger has touched suddenly untrustworthy. Whether the forced entry happened on a Davisville Avenue townhouse, a Yonge Street condo lobby, or a Mount Pleasant retail unit, the moment police clear the scene is the moment your security clock starts ticking again. ApexLink Garage Masters dispatches trained, insured technicians across Toronto around the clock, so you are never left waiting on a compromised entry point.
Open 24 hours, 7 days a week · Licensed, bonded & insured
Emergency lock rekeying after a burglary is one of the fastest, most cost-effective ways to restore access control without replacing every piece of hardware. By changing the internal pin configuration of your existing cylinders, a skilled technician renders any key the intruder may have copied completely useless — while your current locks, frames, and strike plates stay in place where possible. From standard door knob locks and deadbolts to high-security mortise lock assemblies found in older Toronto homes and commercial storefronts, our mobile team carries the parts and tools to rekey an entire property in a single visit.
What we do
Available 24/7
Day, night, weekends and holidays — a real local locksmith answers and rolls a fully-stocked van.
Fast local response
Based in Toronto, we reach the Toronto area in well under an hour.
Insured & background-checked
Vetted technicians, up-front pricing, 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
How quickly can ApexLink Garage Masters reach my Toronto property after a break-in?
We dispatch the nearest available technician immediately when you call 647-558-2673, and we operate 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Exact arrival time depends on current technician locations across the city and traffic conditions — our dispatcher will give you a realistic estimate when you call, not a vague window. We are a fully mobile service, meaning we come directly to your address with all required equipment on board.
What is the difference between rekeying a lock and replacing it entirely?
Rekeying changes the internal pin configuration of your existing cylinder so that only a newly cut key will operate it. The lock body, hardware, and installation remain in place — which is faster, less disruptive, and preserves hardware that is otherwise in good condition. Full lock replacement is recommended when the lock body itself is structurally damaged from a forced entry, when the existing hardware is too worn to accept a reliable rekey, or when you want to upgrade to a higher-security cylinder at the same time. Our technician will assess each lock individually and recommend the right solution after a visual inspection.
Can you rekey a mortise lock, or do those need to be fully replaced?
Mortise lock cylinders are fully rekeyable in most cases. These locks — common in Toronto's older homes, heritage commercial buildings, and many pre-war apartment buildings — use a removable cylinder that can be extracted, rekeyed with new pins, and reinstalled without disturbing the mortise lock body itself. If internal components like the cam, tailpiece, or bolt mechanism are worn or damaged, our technicians carry replacement internals and can rebuild the assembly during the same visit rather than replacing the entire unit unnecessarily.
How is the price for a post-break-in lock rekey determined?
Several factors shape the final quote: the number of locks being rekeyed or replaced, the type of hardware involved (standard pin-tumbler deadbolts, door knob lock sets, mortise lock cylinders, or smart lock platforms), whether any locks require replacement parts rather than just rekeying, the time of day the work is being done, and your location within our Toronto service area. We confirm the exact price before any work begins — no estimates that change partway through the job. You will know the full amount upfront and can ask questions before approving anything.
Should I wait for the police report before calling a locksmith after a break-in?
You do not need to wait. Police officers typically complete their on-site review within a finite period, and once they clear the scene, your property is your responsibility to secure. Calling 647-558-2673 while police are still present is completely appropriate — we can arrive and begin the assessment so there is no gap between police departure and the start of your lock rekey service. If officers need access to a specific door for continued documentation, we simply coordinate the sequence of locks with you on-site.
Can you rekey smart locks and Yale lock cylinders in addition to traditional deadbolts?
Yes. Many smart deadbolts — including units with Yale lock cylinders — retain a physical keyed backup cylinder that can be rekeyed using standard pin-tumbler techniques. On top of the mechanical rekey, our technicians can assist with flushing stored digital access codes and resetting user profiles where the manufacturer's process allows it. If your smart lock was physically damaged during the break-in and the electronic components are compromised, we carry compatible replacement units on the van for most common residential platforms, so you leave with a fully functional, secured entry point regardless of the damage.
Locked out or need a lock fixed? We are on the way.
We answer 24/7 — talk to a real local locksmith now.
647-558-2673