Police have arrested a man accused of breaking into a string of north Queensland adult shops and having sex with blow-up dolls.

The 23-year-old Manunda man, whose name has been withheld, was charged yesterday with breaking into businesses in Cairns's CBD, including the Laneway Adult Shop off Spence Street three times in the past month.

He also allegedly smashed his way through the roof into the Sapphire Tapas Bar on Lake Street.

The owner of the Laneway Adult Shop told The Cairns Post after the first break-in the thief had stolen five dolls and had sex with one of them.