Final answer:
The Watergate burglars were caught due to their amateurish break-in methods and the investigative efforts following their trial, leading to the exposure of the Nixon administration's cover-up attempts.
Step-by-step explanation:
The burglars involved in the second break-in were caught due to a combination of factors, including the amateurish methods of the break-in and the subsequent judicial and investigative scrutiny. After the break-in at the Democratic National Committee headquarters at the Watergate complex, the cover-up efforts by the Nixon administration and the use of campaign funds for bribes initially helped keep the burglars from revealing their connections. However, the perseverance of Judge John Sirica during the trial, along with the investigative efforts of the press and the formation of the Senate Watergate Committee, led to the unraveling of the conspiracy. Particularly pivotal was James McCord, one of the burglars and a former CIA operative, who decided to reveal some information about the conspiracy, resenting the administration's attempts to shift blame onto the CIA.