Climate scientist Andrew Weaver of the University of Victoria in Canada has been the target of illegal efforts to obtain climate data, reports yesterday’s Observer.

According to the report, attempts have been made to break into Weaver’s office. In one incident an old computer was stolen and papers were disturbed, and on another occasion, individuals impersonated technicians in order to gain access data to his office.

Weaver believes that the attacks are an attempt to discredit the science of global warming. “The key thing is to try to find anybody who’s involved in any aspect of the IPCC and find something that you can … take out of context,” said Weaver.