A "sweaty and agitated" Palmerston North burglar was forced to ditch a pair of women's underwear he had taken for later gratification when his break-in to an inner-city house was discovered. 

Richard Gordon Barlow, 28, was walking along Joseph St about 12.15am last Saturday when he walked up a driveway and saw washing on the line.

Barlow took a pair of women's underwear then tried the property's back door, which was unlocked.

He walked into the house's living room but was disturbed when a woman, who was home alone, heard noises and went to investigate.

Barlow left the building.

"[He then] ran to the rear of another property where he threw the underwear over a fence," a police summary says.

Police caught up with him soon after, finding him in a "sweaty and agitated" state.

Barlow told police he went into the house searching for stuff to take.

"In relation to the underwear he said he intended to take them home and conceded that he would use them for sexual gratification," the summary says.

In the Palmerston North District Court today Barlow admitted a burglary charge.

Judge Gregory Ross said there were some "disconcerting features" about the offending and remanded Barlow on bail until sentencing next month.

- © Fairfax NZ News