The cost of forcing the door
Commercial doors are heavier and their hardware costs more. Prying a storefront door bends the narrow aluminium frame; drilling the wrong spot on a mortise lock ruins a lock that could have been picked. Then there is the time the shop or office stays closed while a new door or lock is ordered.
What a locksmith does
The locksmith confirms you are authorised to enter, then opens the door by picking the cylinder, bypassing the latch or, as a last resort, drilling and replacing the cylinder. Before leaving, they check that the door locks properly again.
How to prevent the next one
Keep a spare key with a second manager or in a lock box. Set up a master key system so more than one person can open the main doors. Rekey when staff leave so you are not handing out keys you can't track. Service panic bars and closers before they stop latching. A keypad lock on a back door means a code can be shared instead of a key.
Building rules
If you lease, the property manager may control the lock cores. Call them first; they may have a key on file, and they may need to approve any lock change.
Getting help in Newport Beach
See the commercial locksmith page or call 949-614-2689 to check availability and get an estimate.
