24 hour emergency locksmith · Southampton

Locked out in Southampton?

Stay where you are. I'll be with you in 20 minutes.

I am Richard Cullin, and I have been opening doors and securing homes for over 10 years. Non-destructive entry first, your price agreed before I start, and no call out fee, whatever the hour.

Call 07591 021444 What I do

Emergency response: 20 min in SO postcodes
Call out fee: £0, quotes are free too
Google rating: 5.0 from 53 reviews
Checkatrade: 9.92 / 10 from 205 reviews

The calm way back in

One call. One locksmith. No drama.

Step / 01

You call, I answer

No call centre, no callback queue. You speak to me, I give you a straight price and a real arrival time, and that is what happens.

Step / 02

Non-destructive entry first

I pick the lock open rather than break it, using proper locksmith tools. Most doors open with zero damage and you keep your lock.

Step / 03

Secure before I leave

If the lock has had it, the van carries anti-snap replacements and I cut and test new keys on site. Parts carry an 18 month warranty.

Picking a brass euro cylinder with professional locksmith tools — Single pin picking · the tool that saves your door

Services

Emergency work to full security upgrades

Residential and commercial, from getting you back inside at 3am to making sure nobody else gets in after you.

SVC / 01

Emergency lockouts

Locked out, keys lost, or a snapped key stuck in the door. I open it without drama, non-destructively wherever possible.

Details SVC / 02

Lock replacement and upgrades

From British Standard mortice locks to anti-snap euro cylinders and Ultion 3 star systems. Fitted properly, guaranteed for 18 months.

Details SVC / 03

uPVC door and window repairs

Failed gearboxes, full multipoint mechanisms, door realignment and stiff handles. Caught early, it is a cheap fix.

Details SVC / 04

Anti-snap cylinders

Fitted as standard on every lock change. The sacrificial section defeats the most common burglary method in the UK.

Details SVC / 05

Smart and digital locks

Ultion Nuki smart locks with fingerprint keypads, key safes with temporary codes, and keyless entry done properly.

Details SVC / 06

Key cutting on site

Cut and tested at your door from the van, so you know every copy works before I leave.

Details

All services, including key safes and mortice locks

The weak point in most doors

Lock snapping takes seconds.
An anti-snap cylinder ends it.

Most burglaries through a uPVC or composite door start by snapping a standard euro cylinder. It needs no skill and no tools worth naming. An anti-snap cylinder gives up its front section on purpose and keeps the core locked solid, so the door stays shut. I fit them as standard on every lock change.

Macro photograph of an Ultion anti-snap euro cylinder showing the star-stamped keyway — The Ultion cylinder up close · fitted as standard

Fit an Ultion lock and Brisant Secure back it with a £2,000 guarantee against break-in by lock snapping. Prefer APECS AP? Those carry a 10 year warranty. Either way you get my 18 month parts warranty on top.

Book a free security survey What is an anti-snap lock?

How easily a standard lock is defeated, and what Ultion does differently

Is your property secure?

Two minutes of this video is usually enough to convince anyone to check what cylinder is in their front door. If yours protrudes past the handle or has no rating stamped on it, it is worth a conversation.

Home security surveys are free, with no obligation. I walk the property, point out the weak spots and give you a written price. You decide from there.

Richard Cullin, owner of IMA Locksmith, in his branded work jacket — Value · Integrity · Service

The man who turns up

One man. Over 10 years. Every job done personally.

IMA Locksmith is me, Richard. When you call, you get me. When the van pulls up, it is me getting out of it. My name is on almost every review this business has, because there is nobody else here to hide behind, and I would not have it any other way.

I am DBS checked, Checkatrade approved and carry £5 million of public liability insurance. Police and insurers recommend changing your locks when you move home, and they recommend British Standard locks when you do. So do I, and I carry them on the van.

More about how I work

What customers say

Five stars is the pattern, not the exception

Every Google review this business has ever received is five stars, and Richard has answered every single one personally. A 100% response rate is rare; it is what a one-man business looks like when the man cares. Here is a sample, postcodes and all.

5.0 / 5 ★★★★★

53 reviews, every one of them 5 stars, and every one answered personally by Richard.

Read them on Google

9.92 / 10 ★★★★★

205 vetted reviews. 10 out of 10 for communication.

See my Checkatrade profile

“Thank you so much to Richard for coming out late last night and changing 3 sets of locks following a couple of burglaries at my mother’s house. He was very quick, friendly and efficient. Would highly recommend to all my family and friends.”

“I contacted IMA Locksmith and they were polite, friendly, and provided a clear and very reasonable quote over the phone. The job was completed within minutes, and I was charged exactly what I had been quoted. No surprises.”

“Richard arrived on time, was professional and friendly throughout, and explained everything clearly before starting the work. The price was fair with no hidden costs.”

“After calling 3 other locksmiths I was really losing hope. Richard was kind and professional on the phone, gave me a quote and explained it. He said he would be 20 minutes. He was spot on and arrived 20 minutes later. Then he got me back in my flat within minutes.”

“We moved into our flat and Richard changed our front door lock and replaced our back door lock a few weeks later. As two young women, Richard made us feel extremely comfortable, advised us on the best and most affordable options and was extremely efficient.”

“Called Richard yesterday as I had 2 window locks needing to be changed urgently. Fantastic service, friendly, faultless from start to finish. Very quick, efficient and highly recommended.”

“Richard was at my home within 30 minutes and rescued me from a scary situation.”

“Very competent and professional in making our home secure. Pleasant and reasonable charges.”

“Richard is friendly & extremely professional.”

Coverage

Southampton and every SO postcode

Based at Ocean Village, out across the city, the Forest, the Waterside and up to Winchester every week. Fareham and the PO postcodes along the M27 too.