Ashley Stewart (18), of Stafford Avenue, is helping his seriously-ill mother and his young sister, who has a hyperactive condition.
He was sentenced at Nottingham Crown Court to 52 weeks' detention, suspended for 12 months, and ordered to do 220 h
ours' unpaid work for the community.
Stewart had pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to being involved in the burglary at a house in Bulwell's Stock Well, which is close to his own home.
James Hett (prosecuting) said a patio door was smashed and more than £1,400 worth of property was stolen.
Mr Hett told the court that the occupants were left "upset, violated and devastated" by the break-in.
One of the stolen items was a laptop computer with photos of a child, which were of great sentimental value and irreplaceable.
Mr Hett said a witness recognised Stewart as one of four people who committed the burglary and saw him making off with the laptop. He had no previous convictions.
Michael Evans (defending) said Stewart's mother, who had come to court to support him, was in hospital for four weeks.
During that time, Stewart had looked after his ten-year-old sister, cooking for her, washing her clothes and taking her to school.
His mother would have to go back to hospital for two days in July to see how her condition had developed and she would be totally reliant on him, the court heard.
Mr Evans said Stewart was diabetic but two months ago, he had not bothered to take insulin and his weight fell to eight stone. But he was now using insulin again.
Judge Jonathan Teare told Stewart: "The burglary has meant that the victims have forever lost treasured photos of their child. The impact on them must be devastating."
He said he normally sent burglars away for a minimum of 18 months but had taken into account that Stewart was the sole carer for two people in his family. He told Stewart: "You have pleaded guilty to this offence, which takes courage."
Judge Teare made an award of £250 to the witness, whose public-spirited action had led to two of the four burglars appearing at court.
The full article contains 395 words and appears in Hucknall Dispatch newspaper.
