Attila Ambrus
Encyclopedia
Attila Ambrus is notorious for committing a string of robberies in Hungary
. He was born in a Székely
Hungarian family in Fitod
, a small village in eastern Transylvania
, Romania
, right outside Miercurea Ciuc.
Ambrus had trouble with the law from a young age for committing petty thefts. In 1988, Ambrus illegally crossed Romania
's borders by riding underneath a freight train and applied for political asylum and citizenship in Hungary
, the latter of which he obtained in 1994.
Ambrus made a living through a variety of odd jobs, including being a gravedigger and a pelt smuggler, after which he tried out for the professional hockey team Újpesti TE
. Despite his abysmal performance, he was admitted to the roster as goalie while doubling as the team's janitor. Ambrus's income continued to be insecure as he worked a variety of side jobs, and he committed his first robbery of a post office in 1993. After this success, Ambrus continued a string of 27 robberies of banks, post offices, and travel agents that ended with his arrest in 1999, stealing in all about 100 million forints (about half a million US Dollars).
He became known as the Whisky Robber, because he was often seen drinking whiskey at a nearby pub prior to the robbery. While he later carried a gun, Ambrus never harmed anyone in his robberies, and was famous for his outlandish disguises, for presenting female tellers with flowers prior to robberies, and for sending the police bottles of wine. Immensely popular at the time of his arrest on January 15, 1999, a flag honoring the "Whiskey Robber" was flown at the UTE stadium for years afterwards.
Ambrus escaped on July 10, using a rope made of shredded sheets, electric cords, and shoe laces. He evaded police custody for three months while living in a downtown Budapest apartment and was caught again after another robbery when police located his hideout. Ambrus is currently serving a 17-year sentence in a maximum security prison.
His accomplice on one of his earlier heists, Károly Antal (also a Romanian of Hungarian ethnicity) was caught at the Romanian-Hungarian border in 2004 and was sentenced to two and a half years of prison. His accomplice on most of his latter heists, Gabi Orbán, is serving an eight-year sentence in a medium security prison.
The story of the Ambrus has been made the subject of a book, Ballad of the Whiskey Robber (ISBN 0-316-01073-1) by Julian Rubinstein
, and a Hungarian cabaret. A screenplay of the book written by Clifford Thurlow
and writer-director György Dobray, went into production in 2011. Based on Ambrus' adventures, the film stars Luke Goss
, Jonas Armstrong
and Andrea Osvárt
. The film is produced by Kornél Sipos and Bill Chamberlain
with music by Mike Moran
..
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
. He was born in a Székely
Székely
The Székelys or Székely , sometimes also referred to as Szeklers , are a subgroup of the Hungarian people living mostly in the Székely Land, an ethno-cultural region in eastern Transylvania, Romania...
Hungarian family in Fitod
Leliceni
Leliceni is a commune in Harghita County, Romania. It lies in the Székely Land, an ethno-cultural region in eastern Transylvania.- Component villages :The commune is composed of four villages:- History :...
, a small village in eastern Transylvania
Transylvania
Transylvania is a historical region in the central part of Romania. Bounded on the east and south by the Carpathian mountain range, historical Transylvania extended in the west to the Apuseni Mountains; however, the term sometimes encompasses not only Transylvania proper, but also the historical...
, Romania
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
, right outside Miercurea Ciuc.
Ambrus had trouble with the law from a young age for committing petty thefts. In 1988, Ambrus illegally crossed Romania
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
's borders by riding underneath a freight train and applied for political asylum and citizenship in Hungary
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
, the latter of which he obtained in 1994.
Ambrus made a living through a variety of odd jobs, including being a gravedigger and a pelt smuggler, after which he tried out for the professional hockey team Újpesti TE
Újpesti TE (ice hockey)
Újpesti Torna Egylet jégkorong szakosztály is a ice hockey club from Újpest, Budapest, Hungary. Újpesti TE is one of the sport clubs in Hungary that are part of Újpesti TE sport society. The Club was founded in 1885, while the ice hockey department was founded in 1930 and refounded in 1955...
. Despite his abysmal performance, he was admitted to the roster as goalie while doubling as the team's janitor. Ambrus's income continued to be insecure as he worked a variety of side jobs, and he committed his first robbery of a post office in 1993. After this success, Ambrus continued a string of 27 robberies of banks, post offices, and travel agents that ended with his arrest in 1999, stealing in all about 100 million forints (about half a million US Dollars).
He became known as the Whisky Robber, because he was often seen drinking whiskey at a nearby pub prior to the robbery. While he later carried a gun, Ambrus never harmed anyone in his robberies, and was famous for his outlandish disguises, for presenting female tellers with flowers prior to robberies, and for sending the police bottles of wine. Immensely popular at the time of his arrest on January 15, 1999, a flag honoring the "Whiskey Robber" was flown at the UTE stadium for years afterwards.
Ambrus escaped on July 10, using a rope made of shredded sheets, electric cords, and shoe laces. He evaded police custody for three months while living in a downtown Budapest apartment and was caught again after another robbery when police located his hideout. Ambrus is currently serving a 17-year sentence in a maximum security prison.
His accomplice on one of his earlier heists, Károly Antal (also a Romanian of Hungarian ethnicity) was caught at the Romanian-Hungarian border in 2004 and was sentenced to two and a half years of prison. His accomplice on most of his latter heists, Gabi Orbán, is serving an eight-year sentence in a medium security prison.
The story of the Ambrus has been made the subject of a book, Ballad of the Whiskey Robber (ISBN 0-316-01073-1) by Julian Rubinstein
Julian Rubinstein
Julian Rubinstein is an award-winning journalist, author, producer and adjunct professor of journalism at Columbia University.His book Ballad of the Whiskey Robber, published in 2004, is about the Hungarian bank robber and folk hero Attila Ambrus...
, and a Hungarian cabaret. A screenplay of the book written by Clifford Thurlow
Clifford Thurlow
Clifford Thurlow trained as a journalist after failing to get a place at Cambridge and wrote his first book at age 23. He has been described by Penny Wark of The Times as "one of the UK's best ghostwriters."...
and writer-director György Dobray, went into production in 2011. Based on Ambrus' adventures, the film stars Luke Goss
Luke Goss
Luke Damon Goss is an English singer and actor. Since 1994, he has been married to backing singer Shirley Lewis, , and has one stepdaughter, Carli. In January 2007, he and wife Shirley moved permanently to Los Angeles, but still maintain a residence in London...
, Jonas Armstrong
Jonas Armstrong
Jonas Armstrong is an Irish-actor, raised in Lytham St Annes, Lancashire, best known for his appearances on television in the United Kingdom, where he played the title role in the BBC One drama series Robin Hood.-Career:...
and Andrea Osvárt
Andrea Osvárt
Andrea Klára Osvárt is a Hungarian actress and former fashion model. She was born in Budapest and grew up in Tamási, a small town in the south of Hungary. Her parents divorced when she was five. Her father is a veterinarian. Osvárt attended N.2...
. The film is produced by Kornél Sipos and Bill Chamberlain
Bill Chamberlain
William Martin Chamberlain is a retired American professional basketball player in the ABA and the NBA.He played for the Memphis Tams and Kentucky Colonels of the ABA and the Phoenix Suns of the NBA....
with music by Mike Moran
Mike Moran
Michael Moran is a keyboard musician, songwriter and record producer.-Biography:Moran studied at the Royal College of Music in London prior to becoming a session musician and composer / arranger, including music for films such as Time Bandits and The Missionary...
..