Mark Bojniewicz was arrested on charges of first-degree burglary and fourth-degree theft last week and remains in jail on $500 bail.

Arnold Reed of North Pole became suspicious that someone had been pilfering his coffee after his upstairs neighbor Rebecca Hall said that she smelled coffee in her apartment but knew she didn't have any.

He confirmed his suspicions by setting up a video camera and catching his neighbor's house guestBojniewiczstealing French vanilla coffee from his freezer and hazelnut coffee creamer from his cupboard, he said.

"I've got a lot more interesting things to steal than the coffee," said Reed, a 24-year-old bachelor who declined to name his occupation. "If the guy would have asked me, I would have gave it to him."

The alleged incident took place on Thursday, and Bojniewicz was arrested after troopers reviewed Reed's video recording of the incident, said Alaska State Trooper trainee James Norton.

Reed collected about 10 hours of tape on borrowed equipment, which he set up on his entertainment center facing his front door and kitchen.

Reed said he caught Bojniewicz on the second day of recording. He isn't sure how much coffee was stolen. "I have no clue. ... Every now and again I'll have some coffee. He did have a fair share."

Troopers also questioned Hall, who fished a coffee filter with grounds out of her trash. Bojniewicz had apparently hid them in an empty taco shell box, a trooper report said.

Bojniewicz confessed to stealing the coffee upon questioning, said Norton.

"He said he just wanted it," Norton said. "He finished off what (his relative) had about a week or two earlier. She didn't get anymore coffee, so he went downstairs to get some."

Fairbanks Daily News-Miner