‘Friends’ star David Schwimmer lookalike wanted in UK for stealing

LONDON — It’s likely no one told David Schwimmer that life after “Friends” was going to be this way.

Over a decade on from the finale of the iconic NBC sitcom, much-loved character Ross Geller is still entertaining people — at least on this one British police force’s Facebook page.

“Do you recognize this man?” Blackpool Police asked Tuesday on social media. “We want to speak to him in relation to a theft at a Blackpool restaurant on the 20th September,” the post read.

The straightforward question was quickly answered by thousands of people who were quickly able to identify the man in question. To them, the answer was easy: The suspect was clearly Ross.

“I don’t think it’s been this guy’s day, his week, his month or even his year,” read one reply, much to the delight of many, referencing the series’s annoyingly catchy theme song.

“The One Where Ross Became a Thief,” wrote one fan, giving the event its own title in the style of the hit show.

“Please approach with caution. He is known to have studied Karate and we believe he has mastered the art of Unagi, the state of total awareness,” wrote another, referencing the popular episode where Ross makes some questionable comments on sushi and self-defense.

The man in question, who was caught on camera clutching what appears to be a crate of beer, is wanted in connection with a theft that took place in a restaurant last month.

Declared by some as “Facebook post of the year,” the replies rapidly snowballed. As of Wednesday, the appeal had racked up over 79,000 shares and more than 120,000 comments, with news eventually reaching Schwimmer.

While some speculated that the getaway driver was “stuck in second gear,” others spared a thought for fellow series characters Rachel and Monica, who most definitely wouldn’t be impressed at accident-prone Ross’s latest gaffe.

Following an outpouring of jokes demonstrating an encyclopedic knowledge of references in the comments section, the Blackpool Police issued a follow-up statement:

“Thank you to everyone for your speedy responses. We have investigated this matter thoroughly and have confirmed that David Schwimmer was in America on this date. We’re so sorry it has to be this way,” they concluded.

While many comments were centered on Ross’s most iconic scenes, some people couldn’t resist recalling their all-time favorite “Friends” moments. One user, channeling another character, the often-inarticulate Joey Tribbiani, wrote:

“Guys this is serious . . . it was a robbery based on giving and receiving as well as having and sharing. And the stolen items that they give and have is shared and received. And through this having and giving and sharing and receiving, we too can share and love and have . . . and receive.”

This is not the first time a police appeal for information on social media has taken an unexpected turn. In 2015, the Kent police force in England was mocked after sharing a sketch of a wanted suspect who bore a striking resemblance to Fred Flintstone. “Yabba-dabba don’t approach,” read one warning from the time.

Schwimmer joined the fun Wednesday, taking to his personal social media accounts to deny any involvement in the crime:

“Officers, I swear it wasn’t me. As you can see, I was in New York. To the hardworking Blackpool Police, good luck with the investigation.#itwasntme”

Schwimmer’s representatives did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Source: The Washington Post
-Agencies