Suspected robber is ‘useless ringer’ for Gary Barlow as everybody makes the identical joke
Kent Police’s appeal to identify the culprit of a bag theft fell foul of internet jokers, who immediately spotted the similarity to the world famous Take That frontman
Cops want to speak to this man(Image: Kent Police / SWNS)
Cops searching for a suspected bag thief have launched a manhunt for a Gary Barlow lookalike. Kent Police released a computer-generated e-fit of a man alleged to have snatched a bag from a teenage boy in Ramsgate in December.
But their appeal to identify the culprit fell foul of internet jokers, who immediately spotted the similarity to the Take That frontman. One replied: “Looks like Gary out of Take that. ” Another wag quipped: “Whatever he said or whatever he did, he didn’t mean it.”
The force uploaded the photo to its Facebook page, showing the suspect with a green woolly hat and a blonde beard. Another joker said: “It’s Gary Barlow dressed as a leprechaun.”
The force said a bag was snatched from a teenage boy after threats were made to him near the town’s train station. Their post has attracted more than 600 comments, many mocking the quality of the e-fit of a man supposedly aged between 45 and 50.
One social media asked: “Aged 45 – 50? Is that his son?” Another said: “They always look.like Gary Barlow.” To which one joker replied: “He saw the bag and thought, Take That.” Another quipped: “That’s his idea of a very nice day out.”
Others were quick to compare the post to a scene from spoof spy film Johnny English, as well as saying the image looked like a video game character from GTA or the Sims.
More celeb lookalikes mentioned in the comments include MobLand actor Paddy Considine and American comedian Andrew Santino.
A spokesman for Kent Police said: “A computer-generated image has been issued by our officers who are investigating a robbery in Ramsgate on Tuesday 16 December 2025.
“It’s reported a bag was snatched from a teenage boy, after threats were made to him in an alleyway near the train station at around 4.30pm. Our officers attended and initial enquiries were completed.
“An investigation has led to the creation of an e-fit image of a man police wish to identify, who is described as white and aged between 45 and 50 years old, around 5ft 9in tall, with fair hair in twists and a braided beard. Anyone with relevant information to assist the investigation is urged to contact Kent Police.”
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