Richmond cars, vans and businesses
Richmond Car & Business Lock Guide
Stolen car found with a broken ignition. Work van towed with the keys inside. A manager who left and never handed back the shop keys. These are the calls we take across Richmond every week, so here is what to do first, who to call in the city, and what to have ready when we arrive.
Before we arrive
Pick your situation. Get your job ticket.
Every job goes faster when the right papers are in hand and the right office has been called. Choose what happened to see what to have ready, who to contact in Richmond, and what we do on site.
Have ready
- Photo ID
- Vehicle registration or title in your name
- The VIN, visible through the windshield or on the paperwork
- Where the car is parked right now
Call in Richmond
- If you think the keys were stolen, not lost, tell Richmond Police: non-emergency (510) 233-1214
- A simple loss of keys can be filed online as lost property
What we do
- We check ownership before cutting anything
- Open the car without damage, then cut and program a new key on site when the model allows
- Remove the lost keys from the car’s memory where the system supports it
- Auto locksmith in Richmond
Have ready
- Your police report number
- Photo ID and registration
- Your insurer’s claim number, if you opened one
- Photos of the damage before anything is fixed
Call in Richmond
- A stolen vehicle cannot be reported online in Richmond: call the non-emergency line, (510) 233-1214, with the VIN and plate
- Report copies come from the Records Section, (510) 620-6675
- Wait until police clear the car before you drive it
What we do
- Recovered cars often come back with a forced door lock or a damaged ignition
- We repair or replace what was damaged so the car starts and locks again
- The thief may have kept or copied a key: we cut new keys and cancel old ones where possible
- Car key replacement
Have ready
- License plate number or VIN
- A valid California driver’s license, or a licensed driver with you
- Payment for the release fee plus towing and storage
Call in Richmond
- Richmond Police handle vehicle releases. The city lists release fees of $240 to $300 depending on why the car was towed
- Questions about a hold: Records Section, (510) 620-6675
- Police Department: 1701 Regatta Boulevard
What we do
- If the keys are locked inside the released car, we open it without damage
- If the keys went missing during the tow, we make a new key on the spot
- Car lockout service
Have ready
- Your list of who holds which key
- Which doors, gates, cabinets and vehicles those keys open
- Proof you run or manage the business
Call in Richmond
- If keys or property were taken, Richmond Police non-emergency: (510) 233-1214
- For an ongoing problem on your block, the police Neighborhood Services Team: (510) 620-6640
What we do
- Rekey every lock that key opened, the same day
- Set up a key system so the next departure takes one rekey, not ten
- Fleet and work-van keys too
- Commercial locksmith in Richmond
Police reports in Richmond
Online or by phone? It depends on what happened
Richmond Police take online reports for property damage and vandalism, lost property, thefts other than stolen vehicles, and hit and runs. The incident has to be in Richmond city limits, not on a state freeway, and with no known suspect.
Online reports are not investigated. They exist to give you a record for your insurer or your bank, which is exactly what most business owners need after a smashed door or a stolen tool box.
Call 911.
Call the non-emergency line, (510) 233-1214. These cannot go online.
File online on the City of Richmond website and keep the report for your insurer.
Records Section, (510) 620-6675. The city says reports are usually ready in 7 to 10 days, for $10.
For Richmond businesses
Shops, warehouses and work vans: keep control of your keys
Along the industrial areas near the bay and on the main commercial streets, the same problem comes back: too many copies of the same key, and nobody sure who still has one. Rekeying after a departure costs far less than what a missing key can open.
Opening or moving a business in Richmond? The city’s Business Licenses office is at 450 Civic Center Plaza, (510) 620-6742.
Write down every door, gate, padlock and vehicle each key opens. When someone leaves, that list tells us exactly what to rekey, and you pay for the locks that matter, not the whole building.
Quick directory
Richmond numbers worth saving
Public city services only. None of them is us.
Questions we hear
Richmond car keys, towed cars and business locks
Can I report a stolen car online in Richmond, CA?
No. Richmond Police exclude stolen vehicles from online reporting. Call the non-emergency line at (510) 233-1214 with your VIN and plate number, or 911 if anyone is in danger.
What do I need to get my towed car back in Richmond?
According to the City of Richmond, you need the plate number or VIN and a valid California driver’s license, or a licensed driver with you. The city lists a release fee of $240 to $300 depending on the reason for the tow, plus towing and storage fees owed to the tow company.
My stolen car was recovered. Is it safe to keep the same key?
Not always. The thief may still have a key or a copy, and recovered cars often come back with a damaged ignition or door lock. We repair the damage, cut new keys and, where the vehicle allows it, remove old keys from its memory.
An employee left without returning the keys. What should I rekey?
Everything that key opened: doors, gates, padlocks, cabinets and any work vehicle. A written key list makes this fast. If the keys or company property were taken, also report it to Richmond Police.
Papers ready? We are on our way.
Car keys, recovered vehicles and business rekeys across Richmond, day and night. Exact price confirmed before work starts.