The Met Police has joined the hunt for a “Ross from friends” lookalike wanted over a theft in Blackpool.
Lancashire Police believes the man, whose CCTV image sparked a worldwide social media frenzy, is currently in London.
"We are working with colleagues in the Metropolitan Police to trace and arrest him," said a police spokeswoman.
After the initial police appeal went viral, Friends star David Schwimmer created his own video re-enacting the CCTV picture.
But he proclaimed his innocence, insisting he had been in New York at the time of the theft.
Police officers have identified the real person pictured in the CCTV appeal after being “inundated” with responses.
He is suspected of stealing a jacket, mobile phone and wallet from Mr Basrai’s restaurant in the seaside town on September 20. He was later caught on CCTV carrying a case of beer out of a shop.
The original post has received more than 130,000 comments from people discussing his likeness to Schwimmer’s character in the much-loved US Sitcom.
One person, referencing the Friends theme song, replied: "I don't think it's been this guy's day, his week, his month or even his year..."
Another, referencing a Friends episode where Ross says he is an expert in self-defence, wrote: "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."
