A burglar who intruded into flats in Patchway turned out to be a previous resident.
Emmanuel Farquharson was living at the multi-occupancy house in Durban Road.
Bristol Crown Court heard he was evicted after damage was caused and told to stay away.
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But he came back with a key and tried to steal items from a room.
Farquharson, 37, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to burglary and causing criminal damage on May 16.
Judge Martin Picton jailed him for six months and told him to undergo a six-month alcohol treatment requirement.
The judge told him: "It is disappointing that for the first time you've committed such a serious offence.
"Stealing off someone who didn't have much themself was a bad thing to do, and you caused damage."
Neil Treharne, prosecuting, said that after being evicted from the property Farquharson returned shortly after, entered a room and stacked a laptop computer, phone and charger outside before being disturbed by a tenant.
Mr Treharne said: "The defendant smashed a CCTV camera and left.
"Police used a tracker dog to find him and he was arrested and taken into custody."
Farquharson admitted entering the property, breaking a CCTV camera, and being disturbed in the process.
Emily Evans, defending, said her client had kicked a long-standing drug addiction but substituted it with alcohol.
She told the court: "He recognises he needs to address that.
"Probation says he suitable for an alcohol treatment requirement."
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