The force said Howell fled, after triggering the bucket shortly before 3am on November 9 last year, but the overturned bucket led the occupants to check their CCTV footage and report the offence.
Howell was also charged in connection with two separate burglary offences the following week at another address in Blyth, when he forced entry into a property before stealing items including jewellery and bikes.
The force said Howell, of Disraeli Street, Blyth, pleaded guilty to all charges at Newcastle Crown Court in December and was jailed for three years and seven months on Tuesday.
CCTV has been released which shows Paul Howell attempting to break in to a property in Blyth, Northumberland, but he is stopped when he trips a hidden string, which tips a bucket of water over his feet.
The householders set the trap following a number of recent attempted burglary reports, Northumbria Police said on Wednesday.
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