$.fn.extend($.ui.autocomplete.prototype, {
    _original_init: $.ui.autocomplete.prototype._init,
    _init: function() {
        this._original_init();
    },
    findMatch: function(valueToFind) {
        var foundMatch = false;

        var items = $(".ui-autocomplete li").each(function(index) {
            if ($(this).text().match("^" + valueToFind + " (.*)$")) {
                foundMatch = true;
                return false;
            }
        });

        return foundMatch;
    }
});