Reply #16: I'm not making much sense of this

[soup]

:shrug: 'Steeling?' I don't write 'em, just providing a link:

Man arrested for steeling radioactive testing device

November 3, 2004 -

Law enforcement authorities in Chatham, Georgia, have arrested a 34-year-old man on charges that he stole a device containing radioactive material from a pickup truck parked outside a Norfolk, Virginia Wal-Mart last month.

The device was taken from a truck owned by Newport News-based Foundation Engineering Science Inc. Norfolk police obtained warrants charging Richard Danes, formerly of Virginia Beach, with grand larceny, larceny with intent to sell and conspiracy to commit a felony.

The instrument, a portable moisture-density gauge, could pose a radiation threat if handled improperly, says The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

Foundation Engineering Science, specializes in geotechnical engineering, environmental management, construction inspection and design and material testing services. The company told the Nuclear Regulatory Commission that one of its employees lost a portable moisture-density gauge that had been checked out for use at a Norfolk work site.
http://www.radjournal.com/articles/radiation/stolen%20device.htm

which led me to:

The Troxler Model 3430 gives you the fast, accurate and consistent results you need to fulfill the testing requirements on today's construction projects. The Model 3430 provides the basic features required for determining the density of asphalt, soil, aggregate or concrete and the moisture of soil or aggregate. It and the other gauges in the 3400 series have replaced conventional density test methods and have become the industry standard.

The Model 3430 offers you a choice of backscatter or direct transmission for density measurement and backscatter for moisture measurement. The Model 3430 adheres to ASTM Standard Test Methods D-2922, D-3017, D-2950, C-1040 and AASHTO T-310. The gauge directly displays wet density, moisture, dry density, percent moisture, percent compaction, void ratio and percent voids in English or metric units.
http://www.troxlerlabs.com/PRODUCTS/3430.shtml

Don't know if this is what caused the problem, but it does answer the 'what the heck could it be'? question. Do hope everyone's ok, whatever it is.