The following was received from the
New York State Department of Health (the Department) via email:
A regional inspector for the Department received an email at 0341 EDT on 5/7/21 from the RSO of a materials testing lab stating that a Troxler model 4640 thin [layer density gauge], serial number 722, containing 40 mCi of Am-241/Be and 11 mCi of Cs-137, was stolen from a job site in Bronx, NY. The operator left the device unattended for a short period of time and returned to find it missing. The device was in its locked position when it was taken. The area was canvassed, and the police were notified.
On 5/7/21, the licensee received a phone call from [an individual] stating that they had the device and wanted the reward. The licensee paid the reward and the device is back in the possession of the licensee. The device appears to be in good shape, but it will be leak tested before it is put back into operation.
Event Report ID No.: NYDOH-21-02
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