High-Security Lock Installation in NYC

A standard deadbolt keeps out a stranger with nothing but a screwdriver. It does not keep out someone with a blank key and two minutes at a hardware store kiosk. High-security lock installation closes that gap: a patented keyway, tighter machining tolerances, and — on the better systems — a sidebar or rotating disc inside the cylinder that has to line up before the plug turns at all.

Basics Plus has installed and serviced locks on Manhattan doors since 1988, working out of three real storefronts across the city. We install everything from a basic deadbolt through advanced security hardware for homes, apartments, offices, and storefronts, and we cut and test high-security keys — Medeco, Mul-T-Lock, Abloy, and Schlage Primus — on calibrated machines at the counter. If you're looking to upgrade an apartment door, a building entrance, or an office suite to a restricted-key system, this is the job we do.

What "high-security lock installation" covers

New high-security cylinders. Medeco, Mul-T-Lock, Abloy, and Schlage Primus cylinders installed in place of a standard pin-tumbler lock, so keys can no longer be copied at a hardware store or vending kiosk without authorization.
Reinforced strikes. Our before-and-after example shows a standard apartment door upgraded with a high-security cylinder and a reinforced strike plate, with keys cut to match — addressing both the lock and the frame it sits in.
Deadbolts added where there is none. For apartments or offices with only a single lock, we install a deadbolt as part of the upgrade.
Master key and restricted keyway systems. For buildings and offices with multiple doors and multiple tenants, we set up systems where a manager holds one key and each unit or suite holds its own, on a keyway that can't be duplicated without authorization.
Security system consultation. For a full building or office, we walk the space with you and plan the hardware — access control, master key systems, reinforced strikes — before any installation begins.

Why an upgrade instead of a repair

Rekeying a worn cylinder buys you time, but it doesn't change what the lock is capable of. We recommend installing a high-security lock instead of rekeying when the cylinder is worn or has been forced, when you want a keyway that can't be copied at a hardware store, or when you're adding a deadbolt to a door that never had one. If your existing hardware is sound and the only issue is who holds a key to it, rekeying may be the faster and less involved option — we'll tell you which situation you're in before any work starts.

Restricted keys and authorization

Medeco, Mul-T-Lock, Abloy, and Schlage Primus blanks are distributed under control — they are not sold to hardware stores or vending kiosks. Once we install one of these systems, future keys are cut against a key control card or an authorization on file naming who is allowed to order them. We walk you through that setup at installation, so you're not stuck later trying to explain a restricted keyway to a kiosk that can't help you.

Where we do this work

Basics Plus covers all of Manhattan from three storefronts: Basics Plus On Broadway at 2315 Broadway (83rd Street), Basics Plus Midtown at 845 2nd Avenue, and Basics Plus Union Square at 121 University Place (13th Street) — with downtown coverage extending into Greenwich Village, the East Village, and the West Village. Shop hours are Monday to Saturday, 8:00am to 7:00pm, with emergency lockout service 24/7.

How the job runs

You tell us the door. Apartment, building entrance, office suite, or storefront gate — and whether you're adding a deadbolt or replacing an existing cylinder.
We quote it before we start. Every job is quoted up front, with no hidden charges added at the door.
We install and test on site. Cylinders are set, strikes reinforced where needed, and every key is checked in the matching cylinder before we leave.
You get the authorization paperwork. For restricted keyways, we explain what's needed to order additional keys later.

Proof: a real before-and-after

On our homepage, we show an actual before-and-after of a standard apartment door: a worn cylinder and loose strike plate, replaced in one visit with a high-security cylinder, a reinforced strike, and keys cut to match.

FAQ

Do you do high security lock installation in NYC? Yes. We install high-security cylinders — Medeco, Mul-T-Lock, Abloy, and Schlage Primus — along with reinforced strikes and deadbolts, for apartments, offices, and storefronts across Manhattan, out of our Union Square, Upper West Side, and Midtown East shops.

What makes a lock "high security"? A patented keyway that isn't sold to hardware stores or kiosks, machined to tighter tolerances than a standard house key, often combined with a sidebar or rotating disc inside the cylinder. Blanks are distributed under control, so future keys require a key control card or authorization on file.

Should I install a new lock or just rekey the one I have? If the hardware is worn, has been forced, or you want a restricted keyway that can't be copied without authorization, install new hardware. If the existing lock works fine and the only issue is who holds a key, rekeying the cylinder is usually faster.

Can you add a deadbolt if my door only has one lock? Yes — adding a deadbolt where there isn't one is one of the standard reasons customers ask us to replace rather than rekey.

Do I need paperwork to get a high-security key made after installation? Some restricted systems require a key control card or written authorization from the building. We'll tell you exactly what's needed for your specific keyway during installation.

Do you serve Greenwich Village and Midtown Manhattan? Yes. Our three storefronts — Union Square, Upper West Side, and Midtown East — cover all of Manhattan, including Greenwich Village and Midtown.