Stay calm and call a licensed locksmith before you try anything else. Attempting to force entry yourself can damage the door, the frame, or the lock and turn a simple lockout into a much more expensive repair. Mike's Locksmith responds to residential lockouts across Montgomery County, Prince George's County, and Washington DC 24 hours a day and can open virtually any residential lock non-destructively, meaning no damage to your door or hardware.

Response time depends on your location and time of day, but Mike's Locksmith serves Montgomery County, Prince George's County, Northwest DC, and the surrounding area and aims to respond as quickly as possible to every emergency call. When you call, you will speak to Mike directly, get an honest estimate of arrival time, and receive a firm price before anyone is dispatched. No surprises, no bait-and-switch quotes when the technician arrives.

In most cases yes. A properly trained and equipped locksmith will always attempt non-destructive entry first using lock picks and bypass tools before ever considering drilling. Drilling destroys the lock and should only happen as a true last resort when the lock is damaged, jammed, or otherwise impossible to pick. If a locksmith reaches for a drill before attempting to pick the lock, that is a serious red flag about their training and intentions.

Call a licensed locksmith immediately. A compromised lock should be treated as an active security vulnerability until it is replaced or repaired. Mike's Locksmith responds to post-break-in calls across Maryland and DC, assesses the damage honestly, and can replace or upgrade the affected hardware on the same visit. We will also tell you if additional doors or locks were affected that you may not have noticed.

Not always. The locksmith industry has a well-documented bait-and-switch problem where online listings use fake local addresses and low quote prices to get the call, then send an unlicensed technician who inflates the price on arrival. Always verify that the locksmith holds a valid Maryland license before anyone shows up. Mike's Locksmith is licensed under MD DLLR #229, operates out of a real shop at 12410 Washington Ave in Rockville, and gives you the full price over the phone before dispatching.

A lockout service gets you back inside your property when you are locked out but your locks are otherwise intact and secure. A lock change or rekey is necessary when security has been compromised, such as after a break-in, a lost key, or an eviction situation where someone else may still have access. Mike's Locksmith handles both on the same call and will give you an honest assessment of which one your situation actually requires.