Spotlight On: JD Williams Locksmith Service

Spotlight On: JD Williams Locksmith Service

Have you ever locked your keys inside your car? Now it’s harder to do, but not impossible. I remember doing just that outside of a strip mall when I was in my mid-twenties. A very stressful situation when you’re in a city where you know no one. Luckily, there was a Men’s Warehouse thirty feet away, and I convinced them to let me have a coat hanger. Carefully, I slid the unwound hanger, hook first, down through the open window of my old Toyota Tercel and popped that puppy open. But no one wants to go through that, right?

Well… you don’t have to. You don’t even have to change out your own door locks, make your own keys, and much more. There’s someone in town who can do all that for you.

As part of our ongoing series, we are interviewing people of interest in the area who are having a positive impact on our community. This time, we’re interviewing James Williams, owner and operator of JD Williams Locksmith!

How did you enter the industry and what inspired you to start JD Williams Locksmith Service?

I started locksmithing by accident, really. I went from volunteer firefighter/EMT to security officer, and then I was promoted to a collateral duty position which had responsibility for key management and small repairs. I wasn’t really a locksmith there, but I discovered I enjoyed the work. A few hours before the 2019 earthquake, I applied to a new position in Ridgecrest where I would be a full-time locksmith. I spent over five years there. I started JD Williams Locksmith Service while I worked as an employee, and in early 2025 I was finally in a financial position to make the business my full-time employment. Working for myself has been my goal since shortly after I started my first job. I am so blessed to be able to do so now!

Can you explain what it means to hold both a locksmith license and a C-28 security contractor license?

I am licensed as a “Locksmith Company Operator” and as a “Lock and Security Equipment Contractor.” My LCO license allows me to operate a business which repairs, installs, and modifies locks; provides emergency lock-out assistance to customers; and generates keys by any method available. My C-28 Lock and Security Equipment Contractor license allows me to perform light construction and repair services to buildings in furtherance of lock and security equipment projects. This covers large-scale door hardware replacements, large master-key systems, CCTV setups, and more. Most locksmiths hold a Locksmith Company Operator license, or work directly for someone who does. The contractor license is less common and shows the locksmith has a certain level of experience and knowledge. You need to pass tests and have a minimum of four years’ experience to get any type of contractor license in California.

What is the most common call you get to go out on?

Almost half of my work is a customer having lost all the keys to their car. Most folks are surprised to hear that it isn’t lockouts. Emergency lock-out requests are about 15–20% of my work.

What’s the most technically challenging job you’ve worked on?

The most challenging job I’ve worked on was under the contractor side of my business. The job was to install a system of 16 security cameras on three buildings. All cameras were hard-wired and fed into a central monitoring station. I had to run cable through attics, buried conduit, and across a utility-grade overhead cable. This job required nine days of work total and two subcontractors. Included in the nine days were about a dozen lock replacements and repairs, although that aspect was not especially challenging.

Please walk us through your process when you respond to an emergency lockout call.

The first thing I try to do when I get a lock-out call is to calm the caller. They’re usually in a bit of a panic, and they’ve usually been told “no” a few times before they get to me. For them, it is an emergency. For me, it’s just another job. The situation requires great customer service skills to keep them calm and get the information I need from them. Once that is handled, I have a few critical concerns. Firstly, are there kids locked in the car or house? That is an immediate priority. If they’re calling from a community with fast emergency services or a closer locksmith, I will often direct the caller to them. The safety of the children is more important than anything else. Sometimes I am able to respond to an area quicker than emergency services, and I will do so if appropriate. I respond to emergency lock-outs anywhere in Kern, Inyo, and San Bernardino County. That’s an absolutely massive service area, so customers may occasionally have to wait for some time. It pays to have spare keys made ahead of time!

Lastly, how can people contact you for your services?

I try to make it easy to contact me. My phone number, 760-446-9243, forwards calls and text messages directly to my personal cell phone. I have a Facebook page where three to five customers message me each week. I have a website where you can submit an electronic work request at www.jdwilliamslocksmith.com. There have been a few times where a customer flagged me down in a store, and once at a red light while I was driving between jobs. For the fastest response to an emergency situation, I advise customers to Just Call JD!

A special thank you to JD for answering our questions!

TM Rush