Alleged Cedar Rapids drill thief turns himself in

A man turned himself in after seeing himself on television, police said.

Acme Tools in Cedar Rapids released a surveillance image and asked for the public's help to identify the man who tried to steal a drill last month.

Sgt. Cristy Hamblin with the Cedar Rapids police department said Shane Ehrle, 32, of Marion saw himself on television and came to the CRPD to turn himself in. He was charged with 4th degree theft taken to the Linn County Jail.

Police said the suspect walked into Acme Tools, 1943 Blairs Ferry Rd. NE, around 1:50 p.m. on July 17, picked up a Milwaukee drill and walked out of the store. He got away, but the $250 drill was recovered.

It has been nearly a month since the crime, but Hamblin said an Acme representative just signed a waiver allowing police to release the surveillance image on Wednesday.

Police credit the quality video system at Acme Tools and the people who were able to identify him.