KUALA LUMPUR, July 2 ― A bright red bra hung out as bait was too good for a serial underwear thief to pass up, as residents of a high rise condominium in Penang finally caught a man believed to be behind the disappearance of over 1,000 pieces of lingerie.

The 32-year-old suspect, who lived alone in a rented room in the condominium complex, was caught in his room by police after a security guard saw him take the red bra while staking out the scene.

“His belongings were in paper boxes and he kept the stolen undergarments in his wardrobe. It was scary when I saw them,” a condominium management official told English daily The Star.

“He had folded them all so neatly. Even the hooks and eyelets of all the bras were properly clasped,” the official added.

Aside from bras, police also found panties, petticoat and camisoles, and items such as broomstick handles, extendable poles and wire clothes hangers reshaped into hooks, that the suspect likely used to fish for his quarry.

The condominium management official noted that they previously spent many nights going through CCTV footage in search of the culprit ― who made it a point to avoid elevators and corridors with cameras.

The recovered lingerie has since been put on display outside the condominium's management office for complainants to claim.