Brock's Lock Blog Connection

A Common Dilemma for Home & Business Owners

Whether you’ve just moved into a house near Killeen or your Fort Hood-area business has seen staff changes, the question often comes up: should you rekey your locks or replace them entirely?

It’s not just about cost, it’s about your long-term security, convenience, and risk level. At Brock’s Lock & Key, we help homeowners and businesses across Central Texas make informed decisions that balance safety and budget.

What is Rekeying?

Rekeying means keeping your current lock hardware but changing the internal mechanism so old keys no longer work. It’s a quick and affordable solution for improving access control.

Benefits of Rekeying:

• Lower cost than full replacement

Travel Season Is Here; Secure Your Home First

Whether you're heading to a family celebration or flying out for a holiday getaway, the last thing you want to worry about is your home’s safety. In Killeen and surrounding Central Texas areas, December travel leaves many homes temporarily unoccupied.

Before you hit the road, follow these vacation security tips to give yourself peace of mind while you're away.

Best Practices Before You Leave

• Lock all entry doors – including side gates and backyard access points

• Test all window latches and sliding doors – especially in lesser-used rooms

• Avoid hiding spare keys – instead, leave one with a trusted neighbor

Honoring Service, Earning Trust

On Veterans Day, we pause to honor those who’ve served and the ideals they represent: trust, service, integrity. As a veteran-owned locksmith business, Brock’s Lock & Key brings those values to every home and business we protect.

From punctual response times to personalized care, our mission is simple: deliver peace of mind with every lock we install or rekey.

Why Being Veteran-Owned Matters

Veterans bring a service-first mindset, discipline, and a commitment to detail. At Brock’s Lock & Key, that translates into:

• Fast, mobile response times

Halloween Fun: With a Side of Caution

Halloween brings festive decorations, spooky fun, and trick-or-treaters galore. But in Central Texas, it also brings increased foot traffic, crowds, and potential property risks. From accidental break-ins to opportunistic thefts, this season calls for extra awareness, without spoiling the fun.

Here’s how to stay safe while enjoying the season.

Residential Safety Tips for Halloween

When prepping your home for Halloween:

• Secure low-level windows – Decorations can obscure open windows from view

• Check yard gates – Costumes make it easy for strangers to scope access points

A New Season, A Fresh Perspective

As school buses roll down Central Texas streets and kids head back to class, the rhythm of daily life kicks into gear. Fall brings crisp air and fresh starts, but it also raises a question: is your home security ready for the new routine?

Busy schedules mean doors are left unlocked, keys get misplaced, and teens may invite friends over unsupervised. It’s the ideal time to re-check your home’s safety.

Entry Points Matter: Doors, Windows & Garage Access

Even small oversights can leave your home exposed:

• Is your deadbolt tight and secure?

• Are spare keys hidden too obviously?

A Lockout Can Happen to Anyone

You’re rushing to pick up your kids in Killeen. You grab your groceries, slam the car door shut, and suddenly, it hits you: the keys are still inside. Panic. Frustration. Maybe even embarrassment.

But don’t worry, you’re not alone, and you’re not out of options. Here’s how to handle a car lockout without making it worse.

Step 1: Stay Calm

It’s natural to feel flustered, but the best thing you can do is pause and breathe. Ask yourself:

• Is a spare key nearby?

• Are any windows or doors slightly open?

Is Your Front Door Really Secure?

Imagine it’s a quiet Sunday morning in Killeen. You’ve just returned from a family trip, and everything seems normal—until you notice subtle scratches near your front door’s lock. It’s unsettling. And for many homeowners in Central Texas, this scenario isn’t far-fetched.

Your home is your sanctuary. But if you’re relying on builder-grade locks or outdated deadbolts, your protection may fall short.

What Are High-Security Locks?

High-security locks are designed to resist picking, drilling, bumping, and unauthorized key duplication. They typically feature:

• Reinforced cylinders for added strength

In a rapidly changing world where technology continuously shapes our daily lives, ensuring the security of our homes and businesses has become more crucial than ever. As we move through 2024, several emerging security trends promise to enhance our safety and provide peace of mind. From smart home security systems to robust cybersecurity measures for businesses, here are the top security trends you need to know to protect what matters most.

1. Smart Home Security Systems

Losing your car keys or locking them inside the car can be frustrating and inconvenient, denying you access to your personal belongings and mode of transportation. An auto locksmith is a trained professional with specialized tools and techniques to open a locked vehicle without damaging it. Brock's Lock & Key is a reputable locksmith company in Killeen, TX, and we can quickly help you get back into your car. Here are common ways locksmiths get into locked vehicles:

1. Using a Slim Jim

If you have an older car model, the locksmith may use a Slim Jim to open it. A Slim Jim is a long, narrow tool with a hooked end. An auto locksmith inserts it between the window and the door's weatherstripping and uses it to manipulate the locking mechanism. When done correctly, this tool releases a car's door latch and unlocks the vehicle. While this technique can seem straightforward, improper Slim Jim use may damage the door's internal components or the car's security system. Only a professional auto locksmith should perform this task to help avoid the risk of damage.

2. Using a Long Reach Tool

This device is a thin, flexible rod made of sturdy plastic or metal. The tool's length and thinness allow it to reach the car's interior from outside through gaps in the door frame or window seals. Using a wedge, an auto locksmith first creates a small gap between the door and the frame. They then use the long-reach tool to press a button on the vehicle's interior control panel that releases the latch and unlocks the door. The locksmith may also use this tool to fetch in-car items like keys or remote transmitters that have been locked inside. As with the Slim Jim, only a trained locksmith should use this tool to avoid damaging the car.

3. Picking the Locks Manually

Accessing the car using Slim Jims and long-reach tools may sometimes not be possible. In such cases, the auto locksmith may pick the lock using a tension wrench and lock pick. These pick sets may include hook, diamond, ball, and rake picks. They first insert the tension wrench into the keyhole and apply pressure on the lock's cylinder. They then insert a lock pick and manipulate the pins inside the cylinder until all pins are aligned, unlocking the vehicle. Picking a lock is a skill that requires adequate practice and a deep understanding of how locks work.

If you're stuck with a key that doesn't unlock your car door, we can help. At Brock's Lock & Key, we are an auto locksmith that provides automotive locksmith services, including car key and remote programming, broken key repair, and broken extraction. Let's discuss why your key won't unlock your car door:

Damaged Car Lock

When you attempt to unlock your car door and it fails to open, there is a chance that the lock is damaged. You can discover the broken part of the lock by inserting the key and observing how it turns.

If the key turns, but the lock does not open, there is a problem with the lock assembly. But if you use a key fob/ remote to open the door and it fails to open, there is something wrong with the lock cylinder.

Dirt and debris can also cause blocked locks. The lock may freeze in extreme temperatures. If you've been involved in a collision, the impact can damage the lock.

Our team can repair damaged car locks. We will check out the existing locks and install new locks or repair the damaged locks.

Being locked out of your car can be frustrating and time-wasting.  You may be tempted to unlock the doors yourself, but this isn't recommendable as it might cause costly damage. Call a professional auto locksmith like Brock's Lock & Key to help you out. Here are some reasons you should hire us to unlock your car: 

Expertise

Getting into a car you're locked out of or removing a broken key from a car lock requires expertise you can only get from specialized training. Trying to navigate either situation without the right skillsets can damage your car, leading to more expenses. 

You need to seek the help of an experienced locksmith if you lose your car keys, lock them inside the car, or break the key inside the car lock. These professionals know how to handle various types of auto locks and navigate different cars' security facets. 

Brock's Lock & Key is a top choice for many clients because we have experience in handling auto locks and keys.  Our specialized training allows us to help our clients get access to their cars quickly. 

Necessary Tools

Unlocking and repairing auto locks requires special and advanced tools to minimize the risk of damage. Professional auto locksmiths have all the necessary tools and components, like wedges and key decoders, to fix and secure different car locks.  They invest in high-quality equipment since they know what to look for and which brands to use.

A broken car key in a door lock can leave you stranded for hours, so you may need to find an immediate solution. Experts recommend finding emergency auto locksmith services to take care of your problem. Removing the key fragment on your own risks damaging the car lock. Brock's Lock & Key outlines a step-by-step process of gently removing a broken key from a car lock:

Step 1: Assess the Problem and Gather the Right Equipment

Broken key problems are all unique so evaluating the key’s position can help determine the method you will use. Professional locksmiths assess the situation first, and so should you. 

It would help to find proper equipment for the job done before you start removing the key. Some of the must-have items for a key extraction include;

• A pair of needle-nose pliers or tweezers
• Oil-based spray lubricant
• Narrow key extractor tool or paper clip

Using proper equipment minimizes the risk of damaging the car lock while making the extraction easier.

Step 2: Align the Cylinders

Keys often break while someone is turning the lock. If they are broken in the lock, they can be difficult to remove. Your broken key presses the pin tumblers down, allowing the cylinders to turn for the lock to open. A key fragment stuck in the lock may misalign the cylinders.

How often do you lose or break and later replace your car keys? If you are in this category, you should consider having an auto locksmith on speed dial. But before that, understanding certain aspects of car key replacement and repair will help you through the replacement process.

Which Parts of the Car Key Should You Be Keen About?

Studies show that approximately 28% of car and house keys get lost at least once a week. When replacing, you need to know and understand the body and frame of a car key. It will help you decipher what you need when replacing the car keys. An auto locksmith can also understand and help you better with your proper elaboration.

Blade

The blade has the warding, bitting, and tip, making every car key unique and per the manufacturer's setting. A key’s tip describes the farthest end while the ward and the bitting are responsible for the unique contours on both sides of the blade.

Shoulder

The shoulder of the car key prevents the whole key from over-inserting when igniting the vehicle.

Don’t be ashamed for locking keys in your car — millions of drivers find themselves in your situation every year. And even though newer models make it more difficult to lock them inside, it just happens sometimes. You may not make it to your next destination on time, but all is not lost. Here are a few lifesaving tricks auto locksmith services may recommend. 

First Make Sure You Are Locked Out

Before you start evaluating the easiest way to solve the problem, take a moment to ascertain the situation. For instance, you can check that the rest of the doors are locked too. You can also try getting into your car through the trunk if it’s not separated from the cabin. If none of that helps, check out the tips below. 

In Case of an Emergency

If someone or an animal is locked in the car, dial 911 immediately. And if help takes too long to arrive, you can resort to forcible entry. Just ensure that you break a window away from any occupants. You can use tape to cover the window before breaking it. That way, the broken glass won’t scatter as much. 

Use a Shoelace or String

It might sound strange, but locking your car keys inside can be a desperate time. Thus, you have to make use of what you have. This DIY trick will only work if you have post locks, and the string can fit between the door and the frame.