Suspicious, Stolen Package Dropped Off in Lafayette

A green box with higher-than-normal radioactive materials -- stolen and possibly sent to the wrong address -- caused quite a stir Tuesday morning in Lafayette.

Contra Costa Fire Inspector Steve Aubert told NBC Bay Area that a package used for "soil level testing" was found at an auto body shop at 3140 Diablo Blvd., near Brown Avenue, before 9 a.m. by an employee at the shop.

Contra Costa County Sheriff's spokesman Jimmy Lee said it was stolen out of Walnut Creek.

It's not unusual for this kind of equipment to have some radioactive levels, Aubert said, but this particular package tested higher than normal. Hazmat crews were initially called to help, but then were canceled.

A state agency that regulates such equipment was dispatched to the auto shop to investigate.

Aubert said that the package may have been mistakenly delivered to the auto shop.

There were no injuries and no evacuations other than the auto shop, though motorists and pedestrians were advised to stay away until the package was cleared about 11:40 a.m.

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