Detectives sort through the evidence

PULLMAN -- A 24-year-old Pullman man and Idaho native is being charged with stealing hundreds of pairs of women's underwear has posted bail. Garth Flaherty faces 12 charges of second-degree felony burglary and one felony charge of first-degree theft.

Police say they recovered bearly 100 pounds of bras and panties from his home and car.

Othello Richards, KREM.com

Dozens of panties confiscated by Pullman police from the suspect's home and vehicle.

Court documents obtained by KTVB's sister station KREM 2 News in Spokane show Flaherty told detectives he "had an addiction he could not break" and that he was "too scared" to seek help.

Neighbors talk about suspect

Flaherty also told investigators he started stealing women's underwear in middle school and the habit continued while he attended the University of Idaho.

Flaherty says he started stealing more after he moved to Pullman in May of 2006, sometimes visiting 15 different laundromats a day.

An apartment complex employee spotted Flaherty Saturday in the laundry room at the 800 block of N.E. Providence Court. The employee had heard of various theft reports of women's underwear and recognized the man as a possible suspect.

Pictures of seized evidence

Shortly afterward the employee received a complaint from a female resident at a nearby apartment complex stating that her underwear had been stolen from her laundry.

Whitman Co. Jail

Garth Flaherty is accused of stealing women's underwear in Pullman.

Police estimate as many as 1,500 pairs of panties had been collected, costing as much as $2,200. Police had received a dozen complaints from five apartment complexes in the area. The suspect lived in the same area.