If your shop has been broken into, or you just don’t trust the lock that came with the storefront, high security locks for storefronts in San Francisco are the fix. Call Now: (415) 205-5718 for an on-site assessment, or read on for what makes these locks different and what they cost.
Storefronts take more abuse than a home door: constant traffic, employees who lose keys, and the occasional attempted break-in. High security locks for storefronts are built to resist picking, bumping, drilling, and key duplication in ways a standard commercial lock isn’t.
What Makes a Lock “High Security” for a Storefront
A true high security cylinder has hardened steel inserts that resist drilling, tighter tolerances that resist picking and bumping, and patented keyways that can only be duplicated by an authorized locksmith with the right key control card, so a former employee can’t just walk into any hardware store and cut a copy. Some also add reinforced strike plates and pick-resistant pins rated for commercial use. For a business owner, the practical benefit is fewer unauthorized keys floating around and a lock that actually slows down someone trying to force their way in after hours.
What It Costs
High security lock installation runs $180–$360 per door, on top of the $29 service call. If you’re outfitting a storefront with multiple entrances or a back door in addition to the main entrance, we’ll quote the full job together so you know the total before we start.
Pairing High Security Locks With Access Control
Plenty of shop owners combine high security locks for storefronts with a keyed master key system so managers carry one key for every door while staff carry a limited key, or with a panic bar on the back exit for code compliance; see our panic bar / exit device service. If the front door already has a card reader or keypad, our commercial locksmith team can integrate a high security cylinder as a mechanical backup in case the electronic system fails. Running several storefronts or suites under one roof? Read how master keying works in multi-tenant buildings.
Signs Your Current Storefront Lock Isn’t Cutting It
If your storefront still has the builder-grade lock it shipped with, if you’ve had staff turnover and never rekeyed, if a key has ever gone missing, or if you’ve had an attempted break-in even without a successful entry, it’s worth upgrading rather than waiting for a second attempt.
How Long Installation Takes
Installing a single high security cylinder on a storefront door usually takes under an hour once the technician is on-site. A full storefront with a front entrance, back door, and interior office doors takes longer, but we’ll give you a time estimate up front so you can plan around your operating hours. Because the work doesn’t require removing the existing door or frame in most cases, there’s little disruption to foot traffic while the job is underway.
High Security Locks for Storefronts: FAQ
Are high security locks for storefronts required by my insurance?
Some commercial policies do require or discount for upgraded locks; check with your carrier, since we can’t speak for your specific policy.
Can you install after hours so we don’t disrupt business?
We’re open 7 AM–11:30 PM, 7 days a week, so we can schedule installation early morning or evening around your hours; we don’t run overnight service.
Does a high security lock replace the need for an alarm system?
No. It’s one layer of protection. It makes forced and covert entry through the door itself much harder, but it doesn’t replace monitoring or cameras.
Can employees still get spare keys cut?
Only through an authorized locksmith with your key control card, which is the point: no more surprise copies from a hardware store kiosk.
Ready to lock down your storefront? Call Now: (415) 205-5718 for a quote.
Licensed locksmith (#7929) · Open 7 AM–11:30 PM, 7 days a week · 15–20 min response in SF