A McDonald's worker who recognised the cap and watch of a customer he was serving later discovered the man had robbed them from his home before visiting the restaurant.
The worker, Jake White, thought he recognised the Adidas cap and Swatch watch that the customer, Ross Renforth, 20, was wearing, when he bought his fast food from him - but put it down to a coincidence and thought nothing more of it.
But when he returned home after his shift, he realised his property, in Alnwick, Northumberland had been broken into and ransacked, with some of his belongings stolen.
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Newcastle Crown Court heard that Renforth had not only helped himself to belongings, but to drinks too.
Prosecutor Neil Jones told the court: "While he was working at McDonald's he had unwittingly served the defendant, who came into McDonald's as a customer.
"Mr White had noticed the person he was serving was wearing an Adidas cap with a white peak. He thought it was strange and thought I've got one like that.
"A black Swatch was found on the floor on the customer side of the counter, where Mr White had been working.
"When it was found he said, 'I've got a watch like that'. The reason he was finding it was the defendant had forced entry into the flat."
The court then heard that police found Renforth's fingerprints on a bottle of rum which had been inside the flat - they found he had helped himself to drinks from the property, and his blood was also found on the front door.
Renforth, 20, of no fixed address, admitted burglary.
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He was sentenced to 12 months behind bars by Judge Robert Spragg.
The judge said: "You went to McDonalds and Jake White was working there and he recognised the cap and recognised the watch."
Kate Barnes, defending, said Renforth had been under the influence of negative peers at the time and admitted to drinking and taking drugs.
Miss Barnes added: "He has very little recollection of it."
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The court heard that Renforth does have previous convictions but none for burglary. It was also said that he has had a troubled past.
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