Real-life 'Underpants Gnome' steals over 1,000 pairs of used underpants, launders them

        An Underpants Gnome (Photo: South Park Studios)

Police in Germany have arrested a man after he was caught trying to steal three pairs of dirty men's underpants from a gym, according to Spiegel Online International.

Police in the town of Gelnhausen had been looking for the thief, whom the local press dubbed the "Underwear Lover", following a string of underpants thefts in the town. 

The 56-year-old man was spotted stealing the underpants and managed to flee, but police identified him and paid him a visit.

"During the search of his home more than 1,000 underpants and around 100 tracksuit trousers were found, washed and neatly piled up," said police in the small town near Frankfurt.

The man's actions mimic a 1998 South Park episode called "Gnomes", which featured "Underpants Gnomes" who snuck into little boys' rooms at night to steal their underwear and launder them as part of a large corporate scheme.

The man, who was not named, faces charges of theft and misappropriation.

No word on whether or not the underpants would be returned to their rightful owners.

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