Two Chinese nationals were each jailed for four years on Monday for housebreaking and theft by night, while a third Chinese was given two years for attempted burglary.

Liao Jiali, 30, and Wei Yongjiao, 25, admitted to two counts of housebreaking and theft of $95,750 worth of property from Briton Stephen Li, 44, at Lorong Sarhad off South Buona Vista Road on Oct 27 last year.

They also admitted to breaking into a Tanjong Rhu Road apartment between Oct 22 and 23 and stealing valuables totalling $133,700 from Briton Mark David Nicholls, 44, who was overseas at the time.

The third co-accused, Wei Yuandong, 25, who was jailed two years, admitted to trying to break into a unit at Springwood Height in Pasir Panjang with Liao and Wei Yongjiao last Oct 27.

A district court heard that Liao was seen handing his luggage to a female Chinese national on Oct 30 last year before they went their separate ways.

A few hours later that day, the woman and another Chinese national were detained at Cuff Road, Little India, for housebreaking and theft by night. Liao's luggage was found to contain stolen loot comprising watches, jewellery and housebreaking implements and cash of $100.

Liao and the two Weis were arrested at Dorsett Hotel in Outram.

The court heard that Mr Li and his family were out for dinner when Liao and Wei Yongjiao scaled into the unit's compound and opened one of the windows. They ransacked the house and stole valuables including branded watches and assorted jewellery, most of which have since been recovered.

In the earlier break-in, Mr Nicholls' maid was out with her friends when the burglars broke into the condominium and stole the valuables. They also broke open a safe and took the items inside. The maid returned at 4.15am on Oct 23 through the rear door and went to sleep. She discovered the crime at 10am when she woke up and saw that the unit had been ransacked.

Six other charges were taken into consideration against Liao and Wei Yongjiao while Wei Yuandong had one other charge considered.