Police in California are hunting for a thief with an uncanny resemblance to British action star Jason Statham, who was caught on camera stealing $1,700 worth of luxury caviar from a Whole Foods store.
The 'Routine' Shopping Trip That Was Anything But
The Irvine Police Department shared the bizarre case in their weekly #WantedWednesday social media post, alerting the public to be on the lookout for the bald suspect. Authorities detailed how the man, dressed head-to-toe in black, wandered the aisles of the Irvine Center Drive store last month like any other customer.
He even placed random items in a shopping basket to maintain the facade of a 'typical shopping trip'. However, security footage revealed his true intent: he secretly stashed dozens of expensive tins of fish eggs into a brown paper bag he had brought with him.
'This is not Jason Statham filming an action scene in a grocery store,' the police department quipped in their online appeal. After filling the bag with caviar costing between $99 and $170 per tin, the man allegedly abandoned his basket, made a beeline for the exit, and left carrying only the high-end goods.
Public Reaction and the 'Million-Dollar Question'
The police appeal quickly captured public attention, though the hundreds of comments were often more focused on the suspect's celebrity likeness and the unusual nature of the haul than on identification.
'I don't know that we've had $1,700 worth of fish eggs stolen [before],' Irvine Police Department Public Information Officer Kyle Oldoerp told CBS. 'Definitely a large amount, and I don't know what he did with it. That's the million-dollar question.'
Officer Oldoerp expressed confidence the suspect would be caught, noting that their weekly Wanted Wednesday posts frequently generate solid leads from the public. He stated he hoped a viewer 'notices this fishy suspect and gives us a call.'
Online, commenters were quick to jest. 'Caviar doesn't help with hair growth,' one person wrote, referencing the suspect's bald head. Another added, 'That's a little fishy to me! Lol well I hope he gets caught in a net!' The resemblance to Statham was hotly debated, with some dismissing it and others posting memes of the 'Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels' actor.
A History of Celebrity Lookalike Criminals
This is not the first time a shoplifting suspect has been compared to a famous face. In a strikingly similar case from 2018, Blackpool Police in the UK released CCTV of a theft suspect who was widely likened to David Schwimmer's character, Ross Geller, from the sitcom 'Friends.'
The comparison became an internet sensation, prompting Schwimmer himself to post a humorous spoof video from a New York store, holding beer cans and declaring his innocence. 'Officers, I swear it wasn't me. As you can see, I was in New York,' the actor posted at the time.
Blackpool Police played along, confirming Schwimmer was in America on the date in question. The actual suspect, Abdulah Husseini, was later arrested and charged.
Back in California, the investigation continues. The Irvine Police have asked anyone with information to contact Detective Drake directly. Meanwhile, the question remains: what does one do with nearly $2,000 of stolen caviar?
