The Whiskey Robber Set To Ride Again

The goalie known as The Whiskey Robber is set to be freed from Hungarian prison.

Attila Ambrus, a former goalie who from 1994 to 1999 supplemented his meager income in the Hungarian professional ice hockey league by robbing banks, is set to be released from a jail in Satoraljujhely, Hungary on January 31.

Known in his heisting heyday as the “Whiskey Robber”, Ambrus achieved folk-hero status by pulling off a string of 27 straight robberies of banks, travel agencies and post offices before he was caught on January 15, 1999.

Ambrus, now 44, obtained his famous moniker because he was seen drinking a shot of whiskey at a pub near the site of each prospective caper. His sealed his fame by giving flowers to female tellers, sending bottles of wine to the police and by not harming anybody during his escapades.

You may recognize the nickname from the widely popular book Ballad of the Whiskey Robber written by Julian Rubinstein. Johnny Depp and Warner Brothers bought the movie rights several years ago but nothing has come of that, yet.