Radioactive device stolen from truck on the Outer Banks

A radioactive device stolen on the Outer Banks from a contractor's vehicle late last week could be a hazard if the material in it is eaten, but that's as unlikely as it being used for nefarious purposes, a state radiation expert said Tuesday.

The pistol like tool, used to detect lead in paint, was most likely taken inadvertently, said Grant Mills, health physicist for the North Carolina Radiation Protection Section.

Whoever took the item, secur ed in a black briefcase, probably doesn't know it contained Cobalt 57, a radioactive material, he said.

The material, which is not explosive, is housed in a small capsule and would have to be removed intentionally from the device with tools, he said. If it were swallowed, Mills said, it could cause health problems. But overall, Mills said the risk is minimal.

Matrix Health and Safety of Raleigh reported that the device, worth about $10,000 to $20,000, was stolen from a 2000 blue Chevy Silverado, according to a news release.

Mills said the contractor was working in the Buxton-Avon area last week when he decided to take some time off to go fishing. When he came back, the case with the device in it was gone. It was stolen between Thursday night and Friday night.

Anyone with information is asked to call (252) 926-3171 or (919) 571-4141.

Catherine Kozak, (252) 441-1711, cate.kozak@pilotonline.com