ROCKFORD (WIFR) -- At least 15 drivers were stunned to find their cars stolen last month--now Rockford Police say it was all done by one man.

That man is on parole for doing the same thing.

After searching for him for months, police arrested Fred Smith. They say he would sell stolen catalytic converters, which are loaded with precious metals, to local scrap yards.

One was the now shuttered Forest City Recovery. They finally caught him when they responded to a garage fire that had a stolen car inside. Smith happened to be staying at the house at the time.