Roadrunner Lock and Key
Open 24/7 (505) 347-2895
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Unincorporated community, Sandoval County

Placitas Locksmith for Rural Homes, Cars and Rekeying

Need a locksmith in Placitas, NM? Roadrunner Lock and Key is a 24/7 mobile locksmith based in Albuquerque, owned by Genaro Vasquez, and we drive out to Placitas for house lockouts, car lockouts, rekeys and spare-key planning. Call (505) 347-2895. You get the price on the phone before we leave the shop.

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Placitas, New Mexico landscape at sunset with the community name in bold white letters
From the shop on 3rd St NW 23 mi to Placitas, roughly 30 minutes by car with no traffic. Call for a real arrival time.

Placitas at a glance

29.4 sq mi
Land area of the community, so directions matter Source
1767
Land grant that founded San Jose de las Huertas Source
97%
Homes that are single-family detached (ACS 2020-2024) Source

Locked Out in Placitas: Help Us Find You

It's dark, the house is locked and the nearest neighbor is not close. Placitas is an unincorporated community spread over about 29 square miles, so a street address alone may not lead a driver to your gate at night. Call (505) 347-2895, give us the address plus a landmark, and we'll quote the price before we drive.

Near a landmark like Las Placitas Presbyterian Church, founded in 1894? Say so. Count the turnoffs from NM 165, the road that runs from I-25 in Bernalillo up through Placitas. Whatever you'd tell a friend driving out for the first time, tell us.

What to tell us so we find you

  • Your street address and the nearest NM 165 turnoff.
  • The gate or driveway. Its color, a mailbox, a sign, or whether it sits on a dirt drive.
  • A light we can look for. Turn on a porch light or your car lights if you can reach them.
  • A phone you will answer. We may call for the last turn.
  • Anyone inside who needs help. If a person is hurt or in danger, call 911 first, then call us.

Locked out in Placitas tonight? Call for the price and a real arrival time.

Call (505) 347-2895

How Far Is Placitas From Our Shop?

Our shop at 3803 3rd St NW in Albuquerque is about 23 miles from Placitas, roughly 30 minutes by car with no traffic. Homes farther up NM 165, or tucked back on long dirt roads, add time on top of it. Call (505) 347-2895 and we will give you a real arrival time.

It's a small community, about 5,041 people at the 2020 Census, sitting near 5,955 feet. About six in ten Placitas commuters spend 30 minutes or more getting to work each way, per the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

Keys Locked in the Car at a Trailhead Off NM 165

You finished a hike up Las Huertas Canyon, got back to the pull-off, and the keys are sitting on the driver's seat. Nobody's around. NM 165 gives access to trailheads near Sandia Man Cave, and past Placitas it turns into an unpaved, bumpy road that is one of the last plowed in winter. Call (505) 347-2895 with the pull-off name and your vehicle, and we'll quote it first.

Tell us about the road, too. If it's snowy or muddy where you parked, say so on the call and we'll work out together where we can safely reach you. Stay with your group while you wait.

Before you call, check our list of 5 ways to get back into your locked car fast, and read how to get back in your car when you are locked out.

Rekeys and Spare-Key Plans for Homes That Are a Drive From Help

About 97% of Placitas homes are single-family houses, about 94% are owner-occupied, and roughly half were built in 2000 or later, per the Census Bureau's 2020-2024 survey. Help is a drive away out here. So plan ahead: rekey when you move in, so keys from past owners and builders stop working, and keep a spare somewhere smarter than under the mat.

A rekey changes the pins inside your existing locks. You keep the hardware, and every old key goes dead. Our complete guide to rekeying your home walks through it.

For the spare, a combination lockbox mounted out of sight beats a fake rock. About 38% of Placitas workers work from home, and one trip to the mailbox is all it takes. Our home lockout prevention tips cover the rest. Thinking keyless? See how a smart lock gets installed.

Moving into a Placitas home? Get every exterior lock rekeyed, quoted up front.

Call (505) 347-2895

Get the Total Price Before Anyone Drives Out

Some Placitas locksmith websites share one template across several domains, with phone numbers that run in sequence. Before anyone drives out to you, ask for three things: the business name, a street address you can find on Google Maps, and the total price including any travel. That check is part of what we call the 505 Test.

Here are ours, so you can check them. Roadrunner Lock and Key, 3803 3rd St NW, Albuquerque, NM 87107. Phone (505) 347-2895. Owner Genaro Vasquez. Our Google Business Profile shows 132 reviews from customers across our whole service area, not just Placitas. For the other warning signs, read our guide to car lockout scams.

Nearby Areas We Cover

Head west on NM 165 and you reach Bernalillo, where the road meets I-25 at exit 242. Placitas is served by Bernalillo Public Schools. Across the river we cover Rio Rancho and its Enchanted Hills neighborhood, and to the south, all of Albuquerque.

Placitas questions

Asked and answered

Seven questions we hear from Placitas callers, answered the way we would on the phone.

Can a locksmith find my rural Placitas home at night?

Yes, if you help us. Placitas is spread over about 29 square miles, so give us your street address, how far you are from NM 165, and a description of your gate or driveway. Turn on a porch light if you can and keep your phone with you. Call Roadrunner Lock and Key at (505) 347-2895 and we will confirm the route and the price before we leave.

I locked my keys in the car at a trailhead off NM 165. Can you come?

Yes, call (505) 347-2895 with the pull-off or trailhead name, your vehicle year, make and model, and whether you have phone signal to stay in touch. We will quote the price before we drive. Past the pavement, the canyon road is unpaved, so tell us about snow or mud and we will agree on a safe place to meet. Stay with your group while you wait.

My mother fell outside her locked door in Placitas and I live out of state. What should I do?

If she is hurt, call 911 first. Emergency crews can get in when someone's safety is at risk. If she is safe but locked out, call (505) 347-2895 with her address, directions from NM 165 and a phone number for her or a neighbor. We will give you the price before we dispatch. Let her know we are coming, so she recognizes the technician who arrives.

Is a lockbox better than hiding a spare key at my Placitas house?

Yes, for most homes. A hidden key under a mat or rock is the first place a burglar looks, and it still works after you forget it is there. A combination lockbox mounted out of sight keeps a spare available when the nearest help is a drive away, and you can change the code. Pair it with a rekey when you move in so old keys stop working.

What should I do if a locksmith changes the price when he arrives?

You can refuse the work. A legitimate locksmith gives you a total price, or a clear range, on the phone, including any travel charge to Placitas. If the number jumps at your door with no clear reason, say no and call someone else. Roadrunner Lock and Key quotes the price before we drive out, and the technician should confirm that same price before starting.

Does it cost more to get a locksmith out to Placitas?

Ask before anyone drives. Placitas is about 23 miles from our Albuquerque shop, so call (505) 347-2895 with your address and what you need, and Roadrunner Lock and Key will quote the total, including any travel charge, on the phone. A car lockout, a house lockout and a rekey of several doors are priced differently, so describe the job as clearly as you can.

Can you rekey every exterior lock and set up a spare-key lockbox at my Placitas home in one trip?

Call (505) 347-2895 with the number of exterior doors, the garage entry and any gate. We will quote the rekey for every exterior lock, pick a time, and plan it as one visit. Ask about the lockbox on the same call so we can tell you what fits your door and how to set it up. Our shop is about 23 miles away, so one planned trip saves you time.

Need a Locksmith in Placitas Now?

Locked out of the house, stuck at a trailhead, or ready to rekey a new place? Call Roadrunner Lock and Key at (505) 347-2895. Tell us where you are and how to find you. We quote the price on the phone and give you a real arrival time before we head up NM 165.

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Written by Genaro Vasquez, owner of Roadrunner Lock and Key. Last updated October 2026.

Local facts on this page come from: Placitas, Sandoval County, New Mexico (Wikipedia); New Mexico State Road 165 (Wikipedia); Census Reporter: Placitas CDP, NM (ACS 2020-2024 5-year, tables B25024, B25003, B25034, B25035, B08301, B08303); Census Reporter API: Placitas housing tables (ACS 2024 5-year).