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Missing Gauges Containing Radioactive Material Believed To Be In Durham

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Missing Gauges
DURHAM, N.C. — Boxes that contained two gauges containing radioactive material that went missing earlier this month have been found in a Durham housing community, authorities said Thursday.

On Oct. 3, officials discovered the gauges missing from a transportation job site on N.C. Highway 98 Bypass in Wake Forest. If handled improperly, they could pose a potential health and safety risk, authorities said.

The yellow transportation cases that contained the gauges were found in trashcans at the McDougall Terrace housing community, but the gauges were still missing. Durham police said, however, they may still be in the Durham area.

The gauges, which were being used to test construction materials, have a stainless steel handle protruding from their tops and each weigh between 20 and 30 pounds. Police said each of them had caution labels indicating a radioactive source inside.

Authorities said the radioactive material is sealed inside the capsules and pose no immediate health or safety threat unless they are mishandled or broken open.

Durham police urge anyone who believes he or she has found either gauge to stay at least 15 feet away from it, and contact the N.C. Radiation Protection Section at

(919) 571-4141

or

911

.

Anyone with information on the location of the gauges or the people responsible for the theft is asked to call the Durham Police Department at

(919) 560-4415, ext. 227

or CrimeStoppers at

(919) 683-1200

. CrimeStoppers pays cash rewards for information leading to arrests in felony cases and callers never have to identify themselves.

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