Thieves who made off with construction tools in Forest Lake early Thursday morning may have thought they found gold. It could turn out to be fool's gold if they are not careful. Forest Lake police said Thursday the items taken from the box of a pickup truck at a city apartment building contained a nuclear density tester that contains highly radioactive material.

Sgt. Rick Peterson said the device is owned by Asset Management, a construction company that used the tool to measure moisture content and the density of soil and building materials such as concrete.

Peterson said he has been told by the Minnesota Department of Health that the device poses no health hazard if not damaged. But the radioactive material could pose a health hazard if the device is handled incorrectly or tampered with, he said. The nuclear density tester was inside a large yellow box much like a tool box.

The box is 30 inches long by 14 inches wide and is 17 inches tall. It weighs 29 pounds. Peterson said the box is clearly labeled to indicate the device contains radioactive material.

Peterson said city police were notifiied of the felony theft at 2 p.m. on Thursday and believe the device was taken overnight. A power generator and a diamond cord drill were also taken from the pickup, parked at 407 SW 11th Ave. Anyone with information about the theft or finding materials taken from the truck should call the Forest Lake Police Department at 651-464-5877.

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