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Wales Online
Wales Online
National
Laura Harding & Brett Gibbons

Friends star David Schwimmer claims cops were 'disappointed' he wasn't theft suspect

Former Friends star David Schwimmer has claimed police were "a little disappointed" when they ruled him out as a suspect in a theft in Blackpool.

Fans of the Hollywood actor noticed a suspect captured on CCTV leaving a restaurant carrying what appeared to be a carton of cans bore a striking resemblance to Schwimmer.

He responded by posting a video to his Twitter account that showed him scurrying through a convenience store carrying a carton of beer before looking up at a CCTV camera.

He captioned the video: "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."

He added the hashtag £itwasntme to the post.

Appearing on Channel 4's The Lateish Show with Mo Gilligan, he said: "I got a message from a buddy of mine saying 'Have you seen this from Blackpool Police?

"The police had posted something that was really funny. They were a little disappointed that they had ruled me out as a suspect; it wasn't me.

"They said something kind of cheeky and I thought 'Good on them for having a sense of humour', but I couldn't resist responding.

What is Friends?

"So I went that day when I found out with a buddy of mine and we went to my local shop, this little market around the corner from where I live in the East Village.

"I know the manager there so I showed him what was going on and said 'Hey, can I just shoot something?'. Just to let them know I was definitely involved."

Schwimmer admitted he had his own history with petty crime when he stole a chocolate bar when he was a child.

Screengrab from video posted on the Twitter feed of David Schwimmer of the Friends star in a parody video he made of himself in a New York store after police in Blackpool posted on Facebook (PA)

He said: "When I was a kid, the harshest lessen I learned was when I stole a Snickers bar and I think I was like nine.

"It was a store where they knew everyone, it was that kind of neighbourhood, and they knew my parents and knew my sister, but I just really wanted this Snickers bar. And it was after baseball practice and I didn't have any allowance or anything on me so I just snuck it.

"I got out the door and the owner of the store was like, 'David?' Of course he knows me! 'Come here'. And I almost just lost it, cause I knew. You know when you're busted. He said 'Do you want me to tell your parents?' and that was the worst!

"It was bad. I was mortified... but it didn't stop me from stealing."

Schwimmer's "lookalike" has since appeared in court charged with a string of fraud and theft offences.

In February, Abdulah Husseini made a brief appearance via a video link from HMP Wormwood Scrubs to deny the charges.

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