Photo by TERRI WATTS

Sam Allen moved back to Harney County to open Allen Key N Lock, a much-needed locksmith businesses in Burns. 

During the summer of 2021, Sam Allen — who now owns Allen Key N Lock, located at 25 E. Madison in Burns — was living in Portola, Calif., working as a tow truck operator and apprenticing as a locksmith.

One day, Sam received a phone call from his mom in Burns, which is where Sam grew up. This call would eventually be the catalyst that would lead Sam, a fifth-generation Harney Countian, and his wife, Becca, back home.

Sam graduated from Crane Union High School in 1994. He then joined the Air Force and was stationed overseas, then to Arkansas, where he met Becca. After he left the Air Force, Sam worked as an aircraft fuel systems repair mechanic, working on the Air Force One for 3.5 years for DynCorp ASD. The Allens then moved to the Pacific Northwest, landing in California.

It was in California, working as a tow truck driver for Ernie Jones (who also owned a locksmith business), that Sam completed a five-year apprenticeship.

Sam’s mother, Susan Lowe, called him one day to explain that she was having issues with the locks at her business, Ivy Warren Art & Antiques in Burns. She mentioned that Burns did not have a locksmith, and she wasn’t able to resolve her issues. Like a good son, Sam loaded up his tools and headed to Burns to help his mom.

Once he arrived, Sam started thinking about what everyone else in the community does when they have issues with their locks. This led to a discussion with his wife, as well as his mom, that led Sam to move back to Harney County and open a locksmithing business.

“I never really thought I would move back,” Sam said, but he seems to have found his calling.

As a matter of fact, Sam has been getting a lot of calls lately. 

He shared a story about the time he received a call from a man who’s car door shut with the keys locked inside. Sam was in the middle of helping another customer and began telling the caller that he’d be there as soon as he could. That is, until Sam heard the caller trying to console a crying child. As soon as he learned that the child was locked in the car, Sam dropped what he was doing and rushed to help the family. When he arrived, both parents were frantically pacing around the car tying to calm the child who was strapped into the car seat. Within seconds, Sam had the car door unlocked, and the child was safe in the mother’s embrace. Everybody was able to breathe a sigh of relief.

“It’s situations like this,” Sam said, “that make my job worthwhile.”

In addition to assisting people who lock themselves out of their vehicles, homes, or businesses, Sam can re-key locks and duplicate keys. He can also open most safes and lock boxes. His fee varies, depending on the service needed and whether he has to travel.

Allen Key N Lock is available 24-hours a day, with a higher hourly rate between the hours of 6 p.m. and 9 a.m. Sam is willing to travel, but he charges a mileage fee for service calls that are seven miles away or farther.

Allen Key N Lock presently serves Harney, Grant, and Lake counties as well as western Malheur County. 

Are you in a jam? Call Sam at 541-589-0177 or visit his shop at 25 E. Madison in Burns during business hours, which are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.