Radioactive material stolen in the OBX

OUTER BANKS, N.C. - It probably didn't look like much to a thief, but it packs a radio-active punch. Someone stole a radio-active gauge from a truck in Buxton, on the Outer Banks.
   
It happened Friday, but police still haven't found the potentially dangerous device - a device used to test paint to see if there's any lead in it. But, state health officials are worried that if it gets in the wrong hands, the radioactive material could hurt someone.

An alert has been sent out to Avon, Buxton and Ocracoke. Officials with the State Division of Radiation Protection want residents to beware.

The State says it has sent word to local authorities saying, "A device containing cobalt 57, a radioactive material, was stolen on Friday from a pickup truck in Buxton. The device was secured in a black aluminum briefcase and the radioactive material is sealed in a stainless steel capsule inside the device. The worst case scenario is if someone injested it, I would relate it to potential poisoning."

So, state health officials are warning anyone who spots the missing device, leave it alone and call 9-1-1 immediately.

They also tell us swallowing the radioactive material would be worst case scenario. If it came in contact with your skin for an extended period of time, for several weeks, it could cause a burn on your skin.

So again, state officials wanted to send out this alert just to be on the safe side.