A rash of sex-shop robberies across the country have left law enforcement officials hot and bothered — and not in a good way.

Iowa City police released a photo this week of a man stealing a $250 “Mega Masturbator” toy from the Romantix Pleasure Palace, in a bid to catch the pervy perp after he allegedly held an employee at knife point, The Smoking Gun reported.

Cops told the publication that the thug, who’s about 5 feet, 8 inches tall and pictured wearing a blue and black jacket and glasses, held a hunting knife to the worker at about 3 a.m. on Jan. 12. He then he grabbed the 20-pound sex doll and made off — and possibly made out — with it.

The “Fuck Me Silly” model of the doll is described by its manufacturer as sounding and feeling “just like a real ass!” CrimeStoppers is offering an award of up to $1,000 for tips leading to the thief’s arrest.

Sadly, this Iowa man isn’t the only hardened criminal who turned to sex-shop theft over the past year. Here’s a handy roundup:

WARNING: Some of the links in this story may be considered NSFW, unless you work in a sex shop.

• On Jan. 27, a Sykesville, Maryland man was arrested for allegedly breaking into the Red Light District sex shop late last year and stealing a $99 toy, according to The Dispatch. William Pfister admitted to the crime after cops say they found DNA evidence at the scene scene. It was his blood.
• On Jan. 11, several kids between the ages of 13 and 17 broke into a porn shop in Sacramento, Calif. and stole several dildos, magazines and videos — but no money, according to CBS-13. The Fantasy Factory owner was perplexed. “They just took the toys and left,” he said. “They didn’t take the money or anything so I was lost.”
• On Dec. 28 of last year, a gun-toting duo held up the Pleasure Shop and other boutiques in New York City, making off with cash and electronics, according to the New York Daily News.
• On Aug. 29, a man stole an $800 “Pipedream Extreme” sex doll — a replica of a woman from the waist down — from an Ohio sex shop, The Smoking Gun reported. The perp allegedly used a stolen tractor to open up the rear doors of the shop and steal the toy, then escaped apprehension when cops found him down the road.

Source: Huffington Post