It's not his day, his month or even his year, but one thing we're sure of: a suspected crook in coastal England is not actually David Schwimmer. Police in the town of Blackpool were unexpectedly inundated with comments Tuesday when they posted a photo of a suspected thief on their Facebook page. The image of the suspect showed him preparing to buy beer at a local store. The theft on Sept. 20 was of a coat, mobile phone and wallet, taken from a Blackpool restaurant, police told NBC News. But "Friends" fans across the world were struck by how much the suspect looked like David Schwimmer, or, more specifically, Ross Geller, the character he played on the long-running NBC sitcom. Schwimmer himself chimed in on Twitter Wednesday with a clear alibi. 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 pic.twitter.com/EDFF9dZoYR — schwim (@DavidSchwimmer) October 24, 2018 After police posted the photo, many people made references to "Friends" and, of course, Ross' long-running romance with Rachel, played by Jennifer Aniston. If you feel like reading them all, stock up on your Central Perk coffee: As of Wednesday, the post had received more than 135,000 comments. Let's just call this "The One That Came Close, But No Cigar": UK suspect on left, actual David Schwimmer on right. Blackpool Police/Facebook Many were "Friends" jokes. Some of our favorites: "That's clearly not Ross," wrote Sarah Willow. "They're as different as night and ... later that night." "Lay off him," added Louise Lewis. "He grew up with Monica. IF YOU DIDN'T EAT FAST YOU DIDN'T EAT," he said, referencing one of Ross' memorable lines. We love to see true "Friends" geeks dig deep and rise to the occasion! Schwimmer as Ross with Jennifer Aniston as Rachel in a 2002 episode of "Friends." He does look pretty guilty there. Getty Images Fortunately, or alas, the police have now cleared at least one possible suspect in the crime: Schwimmer. In the comments, the cops said he was nowhere in the vicinity at the time of the alleged theft. "Thank you to everyone for your speedy responses," they wrote. "We have investigated this matter thoroughly and have confirmed that David Schwimmer was in America on this date." And they couldn't resist a little "Friends" reference of their own, adding, "We're so sorry it has to be this way." Editor's Note: An earlier version of this story and headline mistakenly said the suspected thief was wanted for stealing beer from a restaurant. TODAY regrets the error.<doc-sep>Friends star David Schwimmer has provided an amusing alibi for himself after police in England released a photo of his lookalike caught stealing from a restaurant. Schwimmer’s doppelganger caught the actor’s attention after hundreds of people pointed out the resemblance of the crook on the Blackpool police station’s Facebook page - prompting Schwimmer to make it clear he was in New York at the time. “Officers, I swear it wasn’t me. As you can see, I was in New York,” the actor tweeted - alongside a CCTV video capturing him “stealing” from a grocery store. The actor, famous for his role as Ross Geller, concluded his tweet: “To the hardworking Blackpool Police, good luck with the investigation. #itwasntme.” Schwimmer’s response has since been liked more than 136,000 times from people appreciative of the joke. “Well done Schwimmer, you win Twitter,” one person wrote. Another responded: “This is brilliant, good for him taking it so well.” Fortunately, Blackpool police have already confirmed that Schwimmer was indeed in New York, writing on Facebook yesterday: “We have investigated this matter thoroughly and have confirmed that David Schwimmer was in America on this date. ✕ Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events “We’re so sorry it has to be this way.”<doc-sep>A police manhunt took a hilarious turn after their main suspect was identified – as a dead ringer for 'Ross from Friends'. Blackpool Police were looking for help to find a suspected thief when thousands of commenters spotted the David Schwimmer doppelganger. More than 35,000 people commented on the post featuring CCTV from a shop in Blackpool. Blackpool Police released CCTVof an alleged thief bearing a resemblance to Friends star David Schwimmer The image features a man with dark bushy hair, holding a pack of beer, staring up at the camera. The original post read: 'Do you recognise this man? We want to speak to him in relation to a theft at a Blackpool restaurant on the 20th September.' However, Facebook users were quick to point out the similarities with the US actor. One person quoted the famous theme tune by the Rembrandts: 'So no-one told me life was going to be this wayyyy.' Another said: 'I heard his getaway driver was stuck in second gear...' Nick Croston said: 'I don't think it's been this guy's day, his week, his month or even his year....' Aaron Milburn added: '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.' Actor David Schwimmer (pictured) plays character Ross in the world famous show 'Friends' Another user said: 'So noone told you life was gonna be this way Your job's a joke, you're broke Your love life's DOA It's like you're always stuck in second gear And before you know it you're in SPAR stealing some beer.' Even the police joined in on the joke. They said: 'Blackpool Police 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.' Anyone who recognises the man is urged to email 7798@lancashire.pnn.police .uk quoting log LC-20180920-0670.<doc-sep>COPS have shared a CCTV image of a very unfriendly bloke swiping beer from a restaurant - and he's a dead ringer for Ross. The double of David Schwimmer, who played Ross in long-running US sitcom Friends, was seen clutching a crate of beer beers as he stared down a security camera in Blackpool. 4 The David Schwimmer lookalike was seen clutching the beers as he stared down a security camera in Blackpool Credit: Blackpool Police Facebook users bombarded the appeal post with jokes inspired by the 90s sitcom. But a Lancashire Police spokesman said: "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". 4 Cops confirmed the US actor was not in the country at the time Credit: Getty Images - Getty 4 Facebook users bombarded the appeal post with jokes inspired by the 90s sitcom Credit: Getty - Contributor Friends fans from across the world had their say in the comments section. Clare Fisher invoked The Rembrandts I’ll Be There For You theme tune with: "His jobs a joke, he’s broke, his love life’s DOA, no wonder he’s resorted to stealing?!" And Cat Vennessa added: "When it hasn’t been your day, week, month or even your year." Chris Allen joked: "I heard his getaway driver was stuck in 2nd gear." 4 Friends fans from across the world had their say in the comments section Credit: Getty - Contributor Most read in news HEATWAVE Scorching 23C temperatures to hit THIS WEEKEND as rain & wind make way for summer COVID CHAOS France to BAN Brit tourists unless they stay in quarantine hotels for 10 days 'DAD WILL BE THERE' Biden DID meet Hunter's shady business pals when he was VP, emails show DR DON'T-KNOW Fauci says he doesn't know whether China LIED & used US cash to develop Covid 'MEETING' MASSACRE 'Mass shooter killed eight at rail yard' after 'setting home on fire' HORROR FIND Neighbor 'in tears' after finding body of 'kidnapped and slain' boy, 4 John Jones commented: "You would think someone would be there for him when the rain starts to fall." But one user didn't find it funny - writing: "It’s a serious matter… this man needs to be found instead of making a joke of this please help. "Someone must know this man he must live on someone’s street, go in someone’s shop or something." We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online news team? Email us at tips@the-sun.co.uk or call 0207 782 4368. You can WhatsApp us on 07810 791 502. We pay for videos too. Click here to upload yours.<doc-sep>
LONDON — A U.K. police force has received thousands of comedy responses after posting an image from a security camera showing a man strongly resembling "Friends" character Ross Geller stealing beer from a restaurant. Police in Blackpool, in northern England, shared the photo of the man on Tuesday, which shows the David Schwimmer lookalike clutching a crate of beer. Blackpool Police shared the image on their Facebook page in a post, which was later removed, and were inundated with comedy responses inspired by some of the iconic lines from the 90s TV program. "It hasn't been his day, his week, his month or even his beer...," joked one contributor. "How did he manage to take that unnoticed?" asked Tommy Dunsmuir. "Was someone on a break?" The police department seemed to enjoy the jokes from Facebook users, taking the time to clear the name of the actor. "Thank you to everyone for your speedy responses," they said. "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." Actor David Schwimmer AP Over 100,000 users have joined in, with a number of them referencing the show's iconic theme song. Schwimmer himself chimed in with a tweet hashtagged #itwasntme. 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 pic.twitter.com/EDFF9dZoYR — schwim (@DavidSchwimmer) October 24, 2018 Police forces in Scotland also joined in the fun. Police in Dumfries and Galloway shared the Facebook post, and warned members of the public to stay away. Before going to bed tonight you should read the comments on this post by Blackpool police 😀 And if you see him keep... Posted by Dumfries Galloway Police Division on Tuesday, October 23, 2018 "He is known to have studied Karate and we believe he has mastered the art of Unagi, the state of total awareness," they said, in reference to a season 6 episode of the show in which Ross confuses unagi (a Japanese eel) with zanshin (a term used in Japanese martial arts).