A kitchen assistant, who broke into his neighbours' units at Cavenagh Gardens and got away with $20,269 worth of property, was jailed for four years on Friday.

Chinese national Tian Shao Shuai, 24, admitted to three counts of housebreaking involving $15,702 between May 22 and Sept 25. Another eight charges of theft and housebreaking by night were considered during his sentencing.

A district court heard that he was living in one of the blocks at Cavenagh Road when he formulated a plan to steal from neighbouring units while their occupants were at work.

He did so as he was short on cash and had spent most of it to feed his gambling habits at Marina Bay Sands casino. The amounts involved in the proceeded charges was between $3,590 and $7,000.

He was arrested by police on Oct 10 for loitering suspiciously at the stairway of one of the affected condominium blocks. He fit the description provided by one of the affected households. A screwdriver and a pair of gloves were seized from him.

The court heard that he was traced by the fingerprints he left at the scene. He could have been jailed for between two and 14 years on each charge.