Killeen guide
Why new residents in Killeen, including military families, should rekey their locks, what it costs compared with replacement, and how to choose a licensed locksmith.
Previous owners, tenants, contractors, dog walkers, neighbors who watered plants: keys get copied and handed around. In a city where many homes turn over with every set of military orders, the list of people who might hold an old key can be long.
Rekeying swaps the small pins inside the cylinder so the old key no longer works and a new key does. The lock body stays in place, so it is quick and usually much cheaper than new hardware. You can also have every exterior lock keyed alike so one key opens them all.
Replace the lock instead if it is loose, hard to turn, low quality, or you want an upgrade like a stronger deadbolt or a smart lock.
If you rent, check your lease and ask the landlord before changing or rekeying locks. Texas law gives tenants certain rights to have locks rekeyed at the start of a tenancy, and many landlords handle it themselves. Ask in writing so there is a record.
While a locksmith is there, check the strike plates. Short screws that only reach the door jamb are the weak spot in most kick-in burglaries. Longer screws reaching the wall framing make a big difference for little cost.
Sliding patio doors benefit from a bar or pin lock, and garage entry doors should have a deadbolt too.
Texas licenses locksmiths through the Department of Public Safety. Ask for the license number and check it through the TOPS public search. Get the full price before the visit, and be wary of anyone who wants to drill a lock that only needs rekeying.