The licensee reported the theft of a
Campbell Pacific Nuclear moisture/density
gauge (model MC-1DRP, serial number MD01005902). The
gauge contained a 1.85 GBq (50 [millicuries]) Am-Be source and a 0.37 GBq (10 [millicuries])
Cs-137 source. An authorized user had been working at a temporary job site for two weeks. On Sunday, August 18 at 8:00 p.m. the authorized user parked his pick-up truck in the parking lot of a local motel in Centralia. The
gauge was in back under the locked canopy, but visible. The
gauge box was locked but not secured within the bed of the truck. When the authorized user went out to his truck at 6:00 a.m. on Monday the 19th the
gauge was gone. The back window of the canopy had been forced open. Nothing else was missing from the truck (not much else of value was in the truck). The theft was reported to the Centralia police and to the licensee's
RSO. The
RSO notified the Department.
- * * * UPDATE FROM STATE (A. SCROGGS) VIA EMAIL 02/14/05 1800 EST * * * *
The following information was received from the State via email:
On Friday February 4, 2005 an employee of another engineering firm noticed the gauge at a garage sale in Centralia, Washington. The employee noted the gauge ID specifics and had his RSO contact the gauge manufacturer for information. When informed by the manufacturer that it had been stolen, the employee was able to involve the police and secure the gauge. The individual responsible for the garage-sale was subsequently arrested. The owner, URS Corporation was notified and is presently having the gauge serviced and leak tested by a licensed technical service provider. They plan to retake ownership when this work is completed.
Notified R4 DO (J. Whitten) and
NMSS EO (W. Reamer)