In the nostalgia market, the TV show Friends is up there with troll dolls and cassette tapes.

Even if you hate the show, you could probably pick out any one of the characters in a line-up, and the show is always showing on some or other channel at almost any time of the day.

Which brings us to a robbery that took place in a restaurant in Blackpool in the UK.

A man was caught on tape leaving a restaurant, carrying what appeared to be a crate of cans, after an alleged theft that took place on September 20.

Blackpool Police posted his picture on Facebook, asking if anyone recognised him.

Here’s the thing – everybody recognised him. Take a look:

Yep. That’s Ross from Friends.

Here’s Sky News:

Police were subsequently inundated with responses from people referencing the sitcom because the suspect looked like the actor David Schwimmer, who played Ross in the show.

Their post has been shared more than 40,000 times – and has attracted tens of thousands of likes from fans of the US sitcom.

The best part is that just to cover their bases, police actually went through the trouble of verifying that David Schwimmer was in fact not in Blackpool at the time of the robbery.

Lancashire Constabulary replied: “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.”

The resemblance is uncanny, and fans have taken to social media to display their unmatched knowledge of the show.

Here’s the BBC:

“I don’t think it’s been this guy’s day, his week, his month or even his year,” wrote Nick Croston, while Olly Byrne quipped: “I’m suprised you’ve not found him… it’s like you’re always stuck in second gear.”

Others, such as Joe Richardson, riffed on some of Ross’s most well-known quotes.

“Shouldn’t he be at work…or is he on a break?”, asked Joe.

While Jay Murdoch wrote: “Apparently the police had him cornered then he performed a pivot manoeuvre and escaped.”

Craig Thompson added: “I saw him behind me in the shop around that time.. just as I was paying for MY SANDWICH.”

Scottish police also got in on the act, with bobbies in Dumfries and Galloway sharing the post and warning members of the public to “keep away” from the suspect.

“He is known to have studied Karate and we believe he has mastered the art of Unagi, the state of total awareness”, they wrote.

Police are still looking for the Ross-doppelganger. Could he be any sneakier?

[sources:skynews&bbc]