A clumsy cat burglar has been sentenced to 10 months in jail for breaking into the homes of wealthy people, stealing jewellery and valuables.

Di Miao, 54, pleaded guilty to four charges of burglary, two counts of theft, possessing stolen goods and proceeds of crime.

The County Court previously heard that between January 2012 and January 2015 he broke into four homes in Toorak, Balwyn, Clayton and Burwood.

In explaining his offending, defence lawyer Matthew Page told the court Miao was "not a glamorous cat burglar" but a single father drowning in debt who "clumsily" committed burglaries.

In February 2015, police searched Miao's Doncaster home and found a "plethora" of cash, jewellery, electronic goods and handbags.

The court heard he left DNA behind at several crime scenes — on a water bottle left at a home in Burwood, blood on a door at Clayton and on a tool used to break into a property in Toorak.

Police also found a wig, a knife and a torch in a bag at his home, which Miao said were for Halloween.

"If the DNA was there then it must have got there by magic," Miao told police when he was interviewed in 2015, the court heard.

A total of 192 items were found, including $10,000 in cash and a luxury watch worth $60,000. He told police they were "cheap gifts" bought by his customers in China.

Crimes appeared desperate, judge says

Judge Susan Cogen said Miao's explanation that his offending was to pay off debts owed to Chinese businessmen he met at Crown Casino did not add up, as he committed the crimes over a three-year period.

His lawyers had denied Miao had a serious gambling debt or gambling problem.

"Even if I was satisfied the offending was to pay off debts, it would not be justification," Judge Cohen said.

Judge Cohen said while his crimes appeared to be committed in desperation, there was some element of planning as Miao had been seen at one of the homes wearing a disguise, and no-one was home when the break-ins occurred.

The court heard after being charged over the burglaries, he was unable to see his dying father again, and had not been able to return to China for his funeral.

While on bail, he was also unable to be with his wife who had returned to China during a difficult pregnancy and given birth to their daughter, who later needed surgery 16 days after being born.

Miao's lawyers had argued a community corrections order could allow him to return to China to be with his wife and sick baby daughter, however the judge said his offending required a jail term.

Miao will serve a 15-month community corrections order after his release from prison, but the judge said it would be up to the authorities whether he will be allowed to leave the country.