'Swiss cheese masturbator' arrested

The US man dubbed the 'Swiss cheese pervert' has been arrested in Philadelphia, bringing an end to what is sure to be one of the year's weirdest crime sprees.

Chris Pagano allegedly cruised Philadelphia neighbourhood Mayfair in his car with a block of Swiss cheese in hand and his genitals exposed, approaching women and asking them to perform sex acts on him.

He was taken into police custody on Thursday after a joint operation by the Philadelphia and Norristown police departments, reports Philadelphia magazine.

Cops waited outside 41-year-old Pagano's house with guns drawn until he opened his door and surrendered himself, according to Fox 29.

He faces charges of indecent exposure and harassment.

Court documents reveal Pagano was also arrested in 2009 after he allegedly "removed a large block of cheese from his pocket" and offered a woman on the street "$20 to rub the Swiss cheese on his penis."

He was also charged with solicitation and disorderly conduct in 2006, though police were unable to confirm whether cheese was involved.

In 2012 Pagano reportedly messaged a woman on dating site OKCupid to ask if she would "perform masturbation on him with cheese", saying he had "started to use [cheese] as a replacement for having sex with girls".

Prior to Pagano's arrest, Mayfair Town Watch senior adviser Milt Martelack said the incident was "no laughing matter" and authorities were taking it "very seriously".