Stolen Gauge Containing Radioactive Materials Safely Recovered

A gauge containing radioactive material was safely recovered without incident over the weekend.The story was first reported in mid-December and may have sounded like something out of a comic book. But alas, there are no nuclear-infused super villains vying to take over the world, but more likely a petty thief who bit off a little more than he could chew.

Monday, January 5th 2015, 2:15 pm

By: News 9

Stolen Gauge Containing Radioactive Materials Safely Recovered

A gauge containing radioactive material was safely recovered without incident over the weekend.

The story was first reported in mid-December and may have sounded like something out of a comic book. But alas, there are no nuclear-infused super villains vying to take over the world, but more likely a petty thief who bit off a little more than he could chew.

It all started back on Dec. 17, when a 10-foot box trailer containing the device was stolen from the parking lot of a Holiday Inn Express near Interstate 40 and Meridian.

The device, a Humboldt Scientific 5001 EZ gauge, is used to measure soil density and water content, often used in construction. The trailer was owned by a Missouri-based company called Midwest Testing.

A spokesperson for the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) told News 9 that while the device did contain radioactive isotopes, it is difficult to open if you're not familiar with it and even still posed little threat to the public.

In a statement released to the media on Monday, the DEQ said a private citizen found the device and turned it over to the Oklahoma City Police Department.

The radioactive material remained securely locked within the device and was completely intact. The report did not state whether or not the trailer was also recovered.