Ritchie Locksmith Services, LLC

05/25/2026

Scam Alert ⚠️ 📢 😒 😑

05/23/2026

Happy Memoral Weekend!
I'm checking in to apologize to everyone I may have missed replying to the pass couple of weeks. There's been a lot of behind the scenes with Graduation at RCCC and trying to take care of emergency calls for all keys lost and lockout out of homes.
If you have messaged me and haven't gotten back with you, I apologize. Please give me a call or message if you still need my services.
Have a safe and fun weekend.

05/18/2026

Thanks for being a top engager and making it on to my weekly engagement list! 🎉 Doug Fink, Amy Teasley, Linda Michelle Anderson, Jolene Houchins, Rebecca Becky Jordan
I'm not looking for glory, but I'm very grateful for your support. Thank you!

05/17/2026

Today started early with a call about 6:30 with a customer locked out of their apartment. Once I arrived, I discovered the locks were the new Smart Key System. I tried to shim the latch without any luck and was about to drill the core out when the customer asked me if I had a magic key that opened everything? Then I remembered I had a set of try-out keys in the car. As luck would have it, the fifth key I tried worked and unlocked the door.
Next stop wa the Kannapolis Train Station. One of the interior doors would not lock. These are on the old style panic bar with upper vertical latches. Luckily, it only needed a little adjustment for the latch plate to engage the rod.
The last stop was for a 2004 VW Beetle. I previously cut the keys and tried to program the fobs without any luck. But today, I successfully completed the task using a new programmer I ordered from TOPDON. There was a bit of a learning curve, and this unit is slower than my Autel IM508, but I finally got them programmed..
It was a busy day, but with God's help, it was Great Day!

05/12/2026

From time to time, I hear from customers and their stories when shopping for a locksmith or other service provider how expensive it is. Today is one of those days where a local automobile dealer was going to charge 475.00 dollars to cut a key and program the chip along with swapping out the battery in the key fob.
I realize everything is expensive, but this is someone who is retired on a fixed income. The piece of plastic key the ring attaches to was broken off, that's it. The customer has physical issues and could not get the cover off to change the battery on the fob, and with the tabs broken on the keys, it makes it hard to keep track of them.
So I drove out to cut and program a new key, but all it needed was a hole drilled in the plastic to run a new metal ring through it. I sanded and buffed off the rough edges and drilled the holes and ran a key rings through the holes; tested them to make sure I didn't drill thru the transponder chips and changed the battery in the fob. All for less than 100 dollars.
Now, maybe you're thinking that's too cheap, but at the end of the day, I sleep fine knowing I helped someone that was about to get reamed by a dealership.
I didn't get in this business to rip people off, I have to charge something for fuel, parts , time, insurance, licensing, training, tools, key machines and testers, and so on...
I try to be as reasonable as I can so I can continue to help others in the community. Keep me in mind if you or someone you know needs lock work done. Thank you for your support.

05/04/2026

Totally unrelated to locksmithing, my GE washer agitator shaft broke at the basket and I had to replace the whole transmission. The agitator gears were worn, so I replaced it too along with the drive belt that spins the water out at the end of the cycle. Hopefully, it will last another 3 or more years. I was able to order the parts from the Repair Clinic online and had everything in a week. The while operation took several hours Friday evening. I finally finished up about 8:30.
Side note: be sure to reconnect "ALL" connections on the wiring harness and the pressure hose is not pinched or loose.

04/20/2026

I seen this coming.

Due to drought conditions in Kannapolis and the region, the City of Kannapolis is asking residents to voluntarily conserve water immediately. Kannapolis, Cabarrus County and the region are experiencing extreme drought conditions. Rainfall for the City of Kannapolis was 7.6 inches below normal in 2025 and currently the City is an additional 4 inches below normal rainfall in 2026.

Beginning today, April 20, the City of Kannapolis will be in Stage 1 Voluntary Water Restrictions. To learn more about Stage 1 guidelines, visit www.kannapolisnc.gov/news.

As a reminder North Carolina remains under a statewide burn ban. The ban was issued by the N.C. Forrest Service and prohibits all open burning across the entire state. You may use a grill outside, but all other burning is restricted.

04/20/2026

The owner at Giovanni's Pizza on Winecoff School Road sent me a text with an bad door closer issue Sunday morning. Luckily, I had one that would fit and didn't need to drill any additional holes to mount it. The old one was shot, oil must have leaked out or it was just worn out. The new one has good pressure and the door will close smoothly as it should.
On a side note, The food here is great. I love the pizza, and cheese steak on a hoogie roll is delicious. Lunch specials and home made baklava like ive never had. The new owners are super nice people and have treated me very well everytime I come in to dine. They have takeout or dinning room area. Give them a try if you've been looking for a different place to get a bite.

04/13/2026

Good Monday morning everyone. Just a quick recap from the weekend. Rekeyed one commercial retail space with three door with no operating key. One locked out of vechile in Concord on Union Street; And a late call to pick a door on a camper. Customer locked the keys inside the unit. Yes, I do campers and RV's if you need extras or have lost all your keys.

04/07/2026

PSA: If you only have one automobile or motorcycle key, don't wait until you loose it. Call me and setup an appointment to have a second one made. It costs a lot more if all keys are lost than getting a second one made. If I don't have yours in stock I can get them in 3 to 5 days. I've had to help so many folks that lost all there keys and the shock on their face of how much it cost to get them remade.
Also, once I take a digital image of your key, I can make you a new one cheaper if you happen to loose them. So, don't put off having a that second key made, send me a messsge and let's get you fixed up.

04/07/2026

Yesterday, I was able to help out Kannapolis Police Dept with a small request to duplicate several keys to one of their offices at City Hall. As a bonus, I was able to see a few officers I've had the pleasure to work around when we had a police presence on our campuses several years ago.