A 44-year-old Slovak fugitive was apprehended after a 16-year spree evading the law, with his arrest occurring at the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics. Italian police reported that the man was wanted for a series of thefts that took place in 2010. His arrest came about when he registered at a campsite on the outskirts of Milan, triggering an automatic alert to the authorities.

The arrest highlighted the ease with which law enforcement can now track individuals wanted for crimes, especially in high-profile events like the Winter Olympics. The carabinieri, Italy’s military police, managed to trace the fugitive's whereabouts efficiently and took him into custody without incident. Reports state that he is now facing an 11-month and 7-day sentence for his past offenses, having been detained at Milan’s San Vittore prison.

Unfortunately for the fugitive, his arrest came just before he could witness the opening game of the tournament, where Slovakia’s ice hockey team triumphed over Finland with a decisive score of 4-1 at Santagiulia Arena. His case underscores not only the dynamism of policing during international events but also serves as a deterrent for others who might consider evading justice at such high-visibility platforms.