A NORTH Queensland woman has returned home to the bizarre scene of a portly thief relaxing poolside, coffee in hand, wearing her neighbour's one-piece swimsuit.

After being caught in the act the man told the woman he'd broken into her Mossman home, north of Cairns, to return two jackets he'd stolen the previous day.

"The woman came home and notices this guy sitting by the pool having a cup of coffee," Cairns police Senior Constable Russell Parker told AAP.

"Then she notices he's wearing this woman's cossie."

The man had allegedly stolen the green one-piece swimsuit and a religious ceremonial gown from a nearby property on a separate occasion.

"The woman recognised the cossie because she'd been with her neighbour when she bought it," Sen Const Parker said.

"I think she thought the whole thing was pretty bizarre."

The man will appear in court later this month charged with burglary over the August 28 incident.