A serial offender sneaked into unlocked homes and stole car keys before driving off in the vehicles parked outside.
But Steven McNulty was caught in the act each time by CCTV cameras, Hamilton Sheriff Court heard on Friday.
McNulty, 43, appeared from custody to admit charges of theft and driving stolen vehicles while disqualified.
He grabbed car keys and a handbag from a house in Church Street, Blantyre, during the early hours of July 29 last year before driving away.
Two hours later CCTV showed him entering the unlocked back door of a house in Station Road, Blantyre.
McNulty again took car keys and made off in the householder's vehicle.
Then on September 11 he stole a car from outside a house in St Andrews Avenue, Bothwell.
Rebecca Clark, prosecuting, told the court: "Around 11pm the occupier noticed the storm door was open and someone had gone through drawers.
"His Mercedes car was missing but the owner had a tracker and the vehicle was recovered in Hamilton."
A fourth theft happened in Glasgow Road, Blantyre, on September 13.
The householder left car keys on a kitchen worktop at 6.30pm and at 9pm realised the vehicle was not in the driveway.
As in the other cases, McNulty was spotted on CCTV. All of the stolen cars were recovered.
Defence agent Laura Kiernan said her client's life has been "blighted by drug addiction".
She stated: "Previously it was heroin but now he use uses Valium.
"When he takes the substance he seems to black out and get into trouble, particularly for this type of crime.
"He can't explain his actions and doesn't know why he does what he does."
McNulty is currently serving a prison sentence for other offences and Ms Kiernan said he is "taking steps to address his addiction issues".
Sheriff Thomas Millar jailed McNulty for 12 months which will start when the earlier sentence ends next year.
The sheriff also imposed an eight-year driving ban.
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