In this undated photo released Wednesday Oct. 24, 2018, by Britain's Blackpool Police, showing an alleged thief bearing a striking resemblance to Ross Geller, the character played by actor David Schwimmer on the TV show "Friends." Blackpool police posted surveillance-camera footage asking for witnesses to identify their suspect, and thousands of social media users highlighted the suspect's likeness to Schwimmer's US sitcom character. The actor then responded with a Twitter video that shows him scuttling furtively through a convenience store clutching a carton of beer, and Schwimmer wrote: "Officers, I swear it wasn't me. As you can see, I was in New York." and he wished police well with the investigation. The Police have said Schwimmer is not part of their investigation, confirming that "David Schwimmer was in America on this date." (Blackpool Police via AP)

LONDON (AP) — British police are hunting a shoplifter who bears a striking resemblance to Ross Geller, the character played by David Schwimmer on the TV show “Friends.”

Facebook users noticed the similarity when police posted surveillance-camera footage of a man carrying a carton of cans from a restaurant in Blackpool, northwest England.

The actor responded with a Twitter video that showed him scuttling furtively through a convenience store clutching a carton of beer.

Schwimmer wrote: “Officers, I swear it wasn’t me. As you can see, I was in New York.” He wished police well with the investigation.

Lancashire Police later confirmed that “David Schwimmer was in America on this date.”

Britain’s Daily Star newspaper ran a story about Schwimmer’s lookalike under the headline “I’ll Beer There for You,” a play on lyrics from the “Friends” theme.