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Thieves stole a vehicle full of radioactive material in Mexico City. A private company employee is said to have left the material in the back of his pickup truck. The head of the country’s National Civil Protection Agency tweeted on Sunday to confirm the incident. Luis Felipe Puente said: “If you see the container, don’t open it.”

The agency is responsible for ensuring the public’s well being. They said the substance presents a “low risk” to the public, but could cause cancer or other long term problems to people who are in contact with it “for a few hours”. The material contains Iridium - 192, a radioactive isotope used in construction and manufacturing. According to local media, the container belonged to a radiography company.

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It was made of stainless steel and was covered in radioactive hazard markings. The employee left the truck unattended in the Alvaro Obregon area of Mexico City last week. When he returned and saw the vehicle had disappeared, he contacted the authorities.