The following information was received via E-mail:
On September 8, 2014, at approximately 1130 to 1245 PDT, an authorized user of radioactive gauges who is the ARSO [assistant radiation safety officer] of Calwest Geotechnical, RML #5539-56, contacted RHB [Radiation Health Branch] Brea concerning a moisture/density gauge, Troxler model 3440, serial number 15195 (Cs-137, 0.333 GBq, Am-241, 1.63 GBq) that had been stolen from a transport vehicle in front of a restaurant in Santa Monica during the lunch break period of 1130 to 1245 PDT. The ARSO has contacted the local law enforcement officials in his area and has filled out a theft report which will be copied and sent to RHB Brea as part of this report. The ARSO will utilize local papers to attempt to retrieve the stolen gauge. The investigation will continue to determine if the radioactive gauge can be recovered in a reasonable time frame. This is being reported to the NRC Operations Center as a 24-hour report under 10CFR30.50(b)(2) since the radioactive gauge has been stolen and it cannot be determined what condition the sources are currently in.
California Report No.: 5010-090814
THIS MATERIAL EVENT CONTAINS A "LESS THAN CAT 3" LEVEL OF RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL
Sources that are "Less than
IAEA Category 3 sources," are either sources that are very unlikely to cause permanent injury to individuals or contain a very small amount of radioactive material that would not cause any permanent injury. Some of these sources, such as
moisture density gauges or thickness
gauges that are Category 4, the amount of unshielded radioactive material, if not safely managed or securely protected, could possibly - although it is unlikely - temporarily injure someone who handled it or were otherwise in contact with it, or who were close to it for a period of many weeks. For additional information go to
http://www-pub.iaea.org/MTCD/publications/PDF/Pub1227_web.pdf