Harvard economics professor charged with manure theft

BOSTON - A Harvard professor who specialises in environmental economics was arrested on suspicion of trying to steal a load of manure from a Massachusetts farm, a police officer said.

Professor Martin Weitzman was arrested near the town of Rockport on April 1, Rockport police officer Michael Marino said.

Philip Casey, who manages a horse stable at the farm, had called police after finding Weitzman and his truck on the farm and stopped him from leaving, Marino said.

The Harvard academic was charged with trespassing, larceny under US$250, ($358) and malicious destruction of property - because the truck left marks on the farm, Marino said.

"He seemed a little befuddled standing there with a truck bed full of manure," Marino said. Weitzman then offered to pay for the manure on his truck, he said.

Weitzman, whose research interests listed on a Harvard website include the economics of biodiversity and global warming, did not return calls seeking comment.

Casey told the Gloucester Daily Times that manure thefts had been a long-standing problem.

- REUTERS