HAKS Material Testing Group, a Connecticut-based company, notified the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) on Wednesday that a portable nuclear gauge reported to be stolen has been recovered.
The gauge, typically used for industrial purposes like measuring the density of soil at construction sites, was located by police at a pawn shop in Bridgeport, Connecticut, and reportedly had no damage. A Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection inspector traveled to the shop to inspect and confirm that the gauge was not damaged. The gauge contains small amounts of radioactive material that are shielded within the device when not in use.
The gauge was stolen from a technician’s vehicle while it was parked in Bridgeport. The vehicle’s trunk was broken into and the chains securing the gauge in place were cut and removed.
The NRC is following up on the event.