Corey Jade Quinlivan was told punishment rather than rehabilitation was the only available sentencing option.

"It's about the community saying we're not going to tolerate people committing this type of offending," magistrate Richard Funston said.

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"Smashing into a store and grabbing items, that's serious criminal offending."

The financial cost of Quinlivan and Noel Barrett's raid on Auski Albury, during which watches were stolen, was $19.054.99.

That included substantial damage to the shop, as well as the car.

"Well," Mr Funston said on handing down his sentence in Albury Local Court, "it's going to be a lengthy jail sentence for Mr Quinlivan today, he understands that."

The now 29-year-old Springdale Heights man, appearing via a video link to Junee jail, pleaded guilty to charges of aggravated break and enter in company, dishonestly obtain property by deception and possess a prohibited drug.

The court was told that Quinlivan, who began using methamphetamine at 16, had a lengthy criminal record for serious property and drug offences.

Barrett, who is serving jail time on unrelated matters, had already been sentenced for his role in the Auski break-in.

Defence lawyer Nicole Polyakova said Quinlivan recognised the "negative impact" of his drug offending.

She said he wanted to address his addictions as part of his sentence.

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Police said Barrett drove into a Lavington service station on January 15 about 7.15am in a car stolen from a Bellevue Street, North Albury, property four days earlier.

Quinlivan got out and put $49.95 of fuel into the car, then got back in and Barrett drove away without paying.

Just after 7pm the same day, Barrett drove the car into a Urana Road, Lavington, service station.

Quinlivan got out and put fuel in the car while Barrett cleaned the windscreen.

Again, they didn't pay.

CCTV cameras at the Auski shop captured the car being driven past the business the next day about 3.20am before returning to park just outside.

Barrett pulled his T-shirt over his face and Quinlivan the hood on his jacket as they got out, walked over to the store, looked through a window, got back in the car and drove away.

The car returned at 3.48am. Quinlivan got out as Barrett reversed into the glass front entrance door.

Quinlivan pushed aside the broken glass, went inside and stole 23 Nixon watches retailing for $7999.77.

Mr Funston ordered Quinlivan, who will be released on parole on July 25, 2021, to pay $9527.49 compensation.