A man suspected of stealing underwear has been arrested for the 100th time, police in the US have said.
Joseph Wilson led police on a brief chase before being found panting behind a rubbish bin and detained in Port St Lucie, Florida.
Experience proved to be no guarantee of success for the 50-year-old accused of stealing underwear and socks from a department store. He was forced to flee on foot after his command to “take off” to the waiting minivan driver fell on deaf ears, according to reports.
However police found him in the nick of time, after a witness called in to say he was hiding further along the road. He was hiding the stolen underwear under his clothes, an oddly straightforward move.
At first Wilson tried to claim he was merely seeking respite from a tiring workout behind the bin. However confronted with the evidence he blamed his behaviour on “hard times” and was led away by police without further protest.
The pants and socks were worth $174. His milestone arrest comes after 37 felony arrests (for more serious crimes) 47 minor offences, and 15 others. He has been convicted for 35 of the 100 arrests.