Police in Philadelphia believe they have arrested the man known as the 'Swiss cheese pervert', who allegedly offered women in the local area money to perform a sex act with cheese.

The suspect, identified by authorities as Christopher Pagano, was arrested at his Norristown home on Thursday.

Investigators suspect Pagano is the man who reportedly drove up to women on several occasions and offered them money to put cheese on his genitals and perform a lewd act while exposing himself.

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A number of women reported being approached by the “white, heavy set male” in the Mayfair area of Philadelphia, US.

Pagano was taken into custody on Thursday night following a joint operation by the Philadelphia and Norristown police departments, the Philadelphia Magazine has reported.

Half a dozen armed police waited outside the 41-year-old's apartment until he surrendered himself. Pagano is expected to face charges of indecent exposure, stalking and harassment.

Last week the Mayfair Town Watch Facebook group posted a photo of Pagano, along with a warning that read: “Good Morning Mayfair! Please be aware of the Swiss Cheese Pervert! This individual is driving around surrounding communities and exposes himself to women.

“He offers them money to watch him put Swiss cheese on his privates. He is a white, heavy set male, 40-50 years old. He drives a newer model silver sedan. He was also spotted in a black newer model sedan.”

Neighbour Rae Dean told Fox 29 News she was relieved he had been detained. "He used to take his guns out and walk around in his underwear in the neighborhood so I always thought he was just a weird guy," she said.

According to the Philadelphia Daily News, a man also allegedly set up a profile on dating website OKCupid to advertise his fetish who 'looked exactly like' Pagano.

It reports that a woman in the area received a message from a man who said: “I started to compare girls to cheese due to their milky complections [sic], girls are soft, smooth feeling and tend to like dairy products more. That and typical advertising, always using a girl to advertise dairy products.

"So cheese is what I started to use as a replacement for having sex with girls.”