Updated 5/5/2012 at 4 p.m.

CHICAGO (CBS) – He’s the Harry Houdini of Chicago’s West Side.

Police were searching for a 15-year-old drug suspect who they say managed a great escape from his handcuffs – and out of the District 11 police station.

CBS 2’s Pamela Jones reports.

They’re supposed to be secure, a way to keep suspects in custody locked up.

But police at Chicago’s Harrison District say a teen broke out of a set of cuffs yesterday and got away.

Police believe the teen banged the cuffs on a bench until they broke. Then he broke away and ran.

Community activist Andrew Holmes uses cuffs in his work with police. He says even when suspects are secured properly, a suspect can force the cuffs to fail.

The teen was originally arrested just before 2:30 p.m. Thursday. He was suspected of having drugs on him.

Police say the teen eventually turned himself in on Friday.

Now, he’ll have a lot more on his rap sheet.