--- title: Police Identify Viral David Schwimmer Lookalike Theft Suspect description: Police in the U.K. searching for a man resembling David Schwimmer, who played Ross from Friends, said the suspect has been identified. canonical: https://time.com/5435735/police-identify-david-schwimmer-lookalike-ross-friends/ author: Billy Perrigo article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2018-10-26T11:50:10.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-04-13T07:55:40.906Z og:title: Police Identify David Schwimmer Lookalike Who Went Viral for Theft og:description: 'Shouldn't he be at work... or is he on a break?' og:url: https://time.com/5435735/police-identify-david-schwimmer-lookalike-ross-friends/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltd6bc5507b37f50aa/69893d8b7cdbacff89d5e44b/gettyimages-2830837.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 3000 og:image:height: 1688 og:image:alt: Ross Geller og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: Police Identify David Schwimmer Lookalike Who Went Viral for Theft twitter:description: 'Shouldn't he be at work... or is he on a break?' twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltd6bc5507b37f50aa/69893d8b7cdbacff89d5e44b/gettyimages-2830837.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # Police Identify David Schwimmer Lookalike Who Went Viral for Theft > Sponsored content. 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There is no cost and no subscription requirement. ### Sources * TIME Newsletters: [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-nl-network-2026q3/newsletters?i=bb19d095-4133-49ed-9db5-3cd96224d557&cr=time-nl-network-2026q3-v1)  by [Billy Perrigo](https://time.com/author/billy-perrigo/)  ## Billy Perrigo Correspondent Oct 26, 2018 11:50 AM UTC  David Schwimmer as Ross Geller David Schwimmer as Ross Geller David Hume Kennerly—Getty Images  by [Billy Perrigo](https://time.com/author/billy-perrigo/)  ## Billy Perrigo Correspondent Oct 26, 2018 11:50 AM UTC Police in the U.K. [searching for a man](http://time.com/5433062/police-ross-friends/) resembling David Schwimmer, who played Ross Geller from _Friends_, have announced they have identified the suspect. The Lancashire police force’s photo of the suspect carrying a crate of beer went viral as social media users pointed out the man – wanted in connection with the theft of a jacket, cell phone and wallet – looked like Schwimmer. > [](https://twitter.com/YoMelloYello/status/1055034731815944194) Users quickly began referencing popular lines from the show. “Shouldn’t he be at work… or is he on a break?” asked one. Schwimmer himself even got in on the action, posting a statement denying responsibility, alongside a video of him carrying a crate of beer. “Officers, I swear it wasn’t me,” he said. “As you can see, I was in New York. To the hardworking Blackpool Police, good luck with the investigation.” > [](https://twitter.com/DavidSchwimmer/status/1055123896909864966) Lancashire police thanked the public in a tweet for their help with the investigation. “Could we BE any more overwhelmed with the response to our CCTV appeal about a theft at a restaurant in Blackpool?” “Most importantly, we’re now satisfied we’ve identified the man in the still & our enquiries are very much continuing. Huge thanks for sharing it with your Friends,” the force wrote. 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