A MAN who smashed his way into a jewellery store and stole $45,000 worth of booty will be released from prison in three months.

Garry Halit Cane, 29, smashed the front window of Gatton Jewellers on January 13 before stealing jewellery from display cabinets.

But the thief accidentally cut himself during the heist, leaving blood at the scene which police were able to match to his DNA.

Ipswich District Court heard the bandit was caught less than a month later after a high-speed chase when he was eventually arrested on the roof of a hotel.

On February 5 a security guard interrupted Cane as he ram-raided a bottle shop at Plainland Shopping Centre in a stolen Falcon utility.

Cane had smashed into the bottleshop four times in an unsuccessful attempt to gain entry but fled with police in hot pursuit through the streets of Gatton.

Police were forced to call off the chase as Cane reached excessive speeds in 40 and 60kmh zones but quickly spotted him near the Royal Hotel at Gatton.

Cane climbed on to the roof of the hotel where officers arrested him.

Some of the stolen jewellery, cannabis and a knife were found in the stolen vehicle after his arrest.

Judge Sarah Bradley told Cane he was too old to be considered a “youthful offender” and she had no alternative but to sentence him to jail.

“It's time that you wake up to the fact that you've simply got to do something about your offending,” Judge Bradley said.

“If you don't you're going to see a lot more of the inside of a prison.”

Cane pleaded guilty to entering a premises and stealing, break and enter and stealing, unlawful use of a motor vehicle, wilful damage, dangerous operation of a vehicle, possessing drugs, failing to stop, driving unlicensed, trespassing, possessing a knife and possessing stolen property.

He was sentenced to three years jail (minus 280 days already served in pre-sentence custody) and will be released on parole on February 4 next year, 280 days in pre-sentence custody were deemed time already served. Cane's licence was disqualified for two years.

Defence barrister Robbie Davies said his client had a lengthy criminal history of dishonesty offences, which stemmed from his problems with cannabis.

Story by Felicity Caldwell, Queensland Times