The following event summary was received via e-mail from the
California Department of Public Health, Radiation Health Branch (
RHB):
On 02/01/21, the [licensee's] Radiation Safety Office (RSO) contacted RHB to report a moisture density gauge stolen out of one of their inspector's truck parked at his residence in Pacifica, California. The gauge involved is a Humboldt Model 5001EZ, S/N 2064 containing 11 mCi of Cs-137 and 44 mCi of Am-241. The theft took place around 0300 [PST] on 02/01/21. Windows of the cab were smashed to get inside by unlocking or opening the doors. The Type A case was taken (gauge inside) by cutting the chains securing the gauge in the cab of the truck.
The inspector ran outside and caught a glimpse of the vehicle that broke into his vehicle. Immediately after the incident, Pacifica Police Department was notified and they responded within fifteen minutes (case number: 21-0311). The sergeant with Pacifica Police Department took down all the information including shipping papers, contacts, gauge number, model number, photos of the case and description of the device. The licensee will be posting a reward for the safe return of the gauge. RHB will be following up with this investigation.
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