Dennis Boothby, Author at The Ring Finders | Page 2 of 7

Engagement Ring Lost, When Thrown Out A Car Window, Found In Saco, Maine, Visually, While Searching With A Metal Detector

  • from Old Orchard Beach (Maine, United States)
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On Sunday morning, August 25th, 2024, I noticed I had a missed call and a voicemail, from just a few minutes earlier. The transcription is as follows

“Hello, my name is Wendy. I lost my engagement ring, literally in the most smallest area of yard and. My grandson has thrown it, and I can’t find it And I’m a wreck because of it and it was somebody gave me your information so I really hope that there’s some way you can help me My number is 207- ???-????  thank you…”

I immediately called Wendy back and she told me she had recently become engaged and while, in the car, her 4 1/2 year old grandson had asked, to see her new ring. As he was looking at the ring, he threw it out the window, of the moving vehicle. Wendy told me the area that the ring had been thrown out of the window, was a very small lawn area and some shrubbery. She also told me it was just 2-3 houses down, from her home. Wendy told me her address and I  knew the area well, as it is literally less than 1 1/2 miles, from my home, in Saco, Maine. I told Wendy I could be there in 5 minutes. After I hung up, I couldn’t help but think of the anguish, that I could hear, coming from Wendy’s voice. She was really upset and I needed to help her find her recently received Engagement Ring.

I arrived at Wendy’s home a few minutes later and was met by Wendy and Wendy’s mother. Wendy and her mother, walked me down the street, to the area, they thought the ring had been thrown into. It was a very small grass lawn area and some shrubbery, as Wendy had described. Wendy and her mother proceeded to tell me that they had searched the area, last night, with flashlights and again this morning, in daylight. No ring was to be found and they thought the ring would be found, in the shrubbery.

Wendy then told me that she had to leave and her mother would stay with me and continue to search. After Wendy left, I showed her mother how my detector works and demonstrated the detector, with a Gold test ring. I then told Wendy’s mother that I would search the small grass area first and either find the ring or eliminate that area as a possible hiding spot, for the ring. As I searched the area, Wendy’s mother kept visually searching, under the bushes, with my pinpointer, that I had shown her how to use. When I didn’t find the Engagement Ring, on the lawn, I focused my attention to the bushes. As I was searching the bushes, Wendy’s fiancée, Justin,  drove up and asked if we had any luck, in locating the ring. Unfortunately no, I replied. Justin also thought the ring would be somewhere, in the thick shrubbery and started looking in the bushes, pulling leaves out , etc. I then gave Justin the pinpointer, to see if he could reach some areas, that hadn’t been searched yet. After 5 – 10 minutes of searching the bushes, still no ring. I then started asking Justin some questions, such as , “Were you in the vehicle, when the ring was thrown, out the window? He replied “Yes”. Could the ring possibly have been thrown, but hit the inside of the vehicle and was still in the vehicle? Justin replied that Wendy had searched the vehicle and it wasn’t in the car. I then was thinking out loud, as I was asking questions and told them that if the ring had ended up on the sidewalk, any walker by, could have found it last night. I was told that they had searched the sidewalk, last night and this morning. I then said that the ring could have hit the curb and bounced, to another area. Justin and Wendy’s mother agreed and then I heard Justin loudly proclaim, “I see it, I got it”. As I turned around, I saw Justin walking out into the street and then he reached down and picked up Wendy’s Engagement Ring. The Engagement Ring had been in the street, all night and it wasn’t damaged. Amazing. As Justin was walking back towards us, he said that because of my questions, about the ring possibly hitting something and bouncing or ricocheting to another area, he decided to look, into the street. Just unbelievable.

Wendy’s mother had called Wendy, to report the good news and I could see Wendy hurriedly coming down the sidewalk. You could see the stress and strain of the situation immediately subsided and everyone was just so happy and relieved.

I may not have found the ring with my metal detector, but assisted the Team effort by asking questions and possibilities of what could have happened, one the ring, was thrown, by a 4 1/2 year old. It doesn’t matter, how the ring ended up in the street. Allen that matters is that as a group, we found the ring and Wendy will sleep much better tonight.

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Two Underwater Helical Anchors, Lost In The Saco River, Found With A Metal Detector, In Camp Ellis, Maine

  • from Old Orchard Beach (Maine, United States)
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Back in the spring, I received a phone call, from Joanne. She and her husband, John were looking to find two helical anchor’s, that had once held their floating dock, in place. Approximately 8 years ago, they had the floating dock removed from the water, at the Camp Ellis, Saco, Maine property, on the Saco River. The property was near the mouth of the Saco River and was is a tidal river. The helical anchors would only be able to be found, by me and my metal detector, at low tide. Joanne and John wanted to know if I could find the anchors. I told them as long as the anchors were no more than 5 feet deep, I would absolutely give it my best shot. Joanne told me that at low tide, we should be no more than 3-4 feet deep, in the river water.

We’re the anchors now to deep, in the river mud and silt, after 8 years of just sitting, on the river bed? We wouldn’t know, until we tried. Joanne also told me that the search, would have to happen, sometime in the summer, as she and John would be returning to Florida. We agreed that they would call me when they returned to Maine and we would set up a date, to search, that would also be a negative low tide.

Fast forward to August, when John called me and we set up a date, to search for the helical anchors. The date we set was August 23rd, 2024, at 7:30am. This was approximately an hour before a negative -0.09 low tide. This would be perfect for what we need to do in the Saco River.

I arrived promptly at 7:30am and was met by Joanne and John. They showed me the area, we would be searching and if found, we would tie a couple of bouys, to the anchors, to mark their location. I then was told that there were large metal chains, that were attached to the anchors and if I could find the chains, under all the mud and silt, we could just pull the chains up and out of the muck and they would lead us, directly to the anchors. John even brought a long handle Cultivator Rake along, to rake the muck and silt, hoping to snag the metal chain, once found with my metal detector.

As John and I entered the river, we were pleasantly surprised to find the water to be very warm. I started searching the bottom of the river and within a few minutes, I received a very loud signal, in my headphones. The target wasn’t anywhere near where the helical anchors should be and John came over with the rake. He started raking, into the muck and soon snagged a large chain. This chain should lead us to the anchor. John and I started lifting the chain, out of the river bottom and followed it out, until it stopped. John reached down and found the chain was hooked to one of the anchor’s. WOW, that was easy, I thought to myself. The anchor lined up almost perfectly with the piling, on the right side of the pier, as we faced it, while standing in the river. John thought the other anchor should be to the left of this anchor and lined up with the other piling. So, I moved over to the other piling and searched back and forth, without any targets being found. After about 10 minutes of searching, I couldn’t find the anchor or the other chain. As Joanne, now in the river with us, started tying the buoy to the anchor we had just found, she came upon a chain that we thought was the same chain, I had found a few minutes earlier. We all thought that I should start searching to the right, of the found anchor, and not the left side, where I was searching . Within a few minutes of searching I received a strong signal and as John reached down, into the water and muck, he let us know that he could feel the helical and a chain. Awesome, we found both of the helical anchors. After Joanne finished tying the second buoy to the second anchor, we measured the distance of the anchors, from the pilings, just in case the buoys don’t hold up, through the  winter.

We then exited the river, with all the tools and detector, to rinse the muck off of ourselves. As we were standing around talking about what we just accomplished, I asked John what the cost would have been, to have two new helical anchors, in place, if we hadn’t found the two anchors, already there. John told me he wasn’t sure of the exact cost but they would be at least $1,000.00 each or $2,000.00 minimum for the pair. Thankfully John and Joanne won’t need to do that, now that the anchors have been found.

So, it’s not always jewelry, that I find. I have found water shutoff valves and property markers in the past and now I can add helical anchors, to the list. I’m just so thankful that I am able to help people like Joanne and John and save them some of their hard earned money.

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Family Heirloom Gold Ring Lost In The Surf at Fortunes Rocks, Biddeford, Maine, Found With A Metal Detector

  • from Old Orchard Beach (Maine, United States)
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I received a call from Michelle, at approximately 11:10am, on Thursday August 22, 2024. Within the last half hour, her Grandson, Alex, had lost a passed down Gold Ring, from his deceased Grandfather. Michelle told me that Alex had been in the water at Fortunes Rocks, in Biddeford, Maine and was in the section of beach known as Middle Beach. Michelle asked if I could come right then and search for the ring. I told Michelle that by the time I loaded my equipment up and drove there, the incoming tide would most likely would make the search very difficult, if not impossible. I suggested that I come search for the ring, in the afternoon, when the tide would be receding and I would have plenty of time, searching the exposed sand. Michelle thought the incoming tide wouldn’t be that bad and I could hear the anxiousness in her voice. This ring really meant something to her and her family. I told Michelle that I would get changed,  load up and get there as quickly as I could. Once I got in the car, I texted Michelle and told her I was on my way. My text read

“Hi Michelle, Dennis Boothby, the RingFinders I am on my way. GPS estimated time of arrival is 11:35. Thank you”.

The time was now 11:23am and Fortunes Rocks is approximately 8 miles, from my home in Saco. My concern was the summer traffic, on Route 1 , from Saco, going into Biddeford. The traffic could be backed up by not only the summer traffic, but also the Amtrak Train, which crossed Route 1 and if stopped for passenger drop off and  pick up , could add another 15-20 minutes to my drive, into Biddeford. Time I didn’t have with the tide still coming in.

Thankfully, the traffic wasn’t bad and I arrived at Fortunes Rocks Beach at 11:40am and Michelle was there to greet me and show me the way, to where her family was sitting on the beach. I then met Alex and he showed me the area, of the now deeper water, of where he was when he lost his ring, when he was hit by a large wave. I immediately fired up my Minelab Excalibur ll metal detector and entered the water, with Alex. Alex had gone directly into the water, from where he was sitting on the beach and he said he went no more than 20-25 feet, to the left of where they were sitting. Alex also told me he was no deeper than his knees, when he was hit by the wave and lost his ring. Unfortunately, knee deep an hour ago, was about waist deep now and the waves were big and strong. I was trying to grid the area, with Alex in the water with me and guiding me to where he was. The waves were unrelenting and we kept getting knocked around. I would have to stop, jump up a little, let the wave pass, search a few feet, jump, let another wave pass and keep repeating this process, until the waves just became to much. Alex agreed that the area he was in was now just too deep to search, but only because the waves were too big. I have searched waist deep water and deeper but when the waves are too big, I just can’t risk it, especially with the rip currents that have been very prevalent, this summer. Once back on the beach, Michelle and the rest of her family wholeheartedly agreed that it was just to dangerous to continue and I made plans to return at 5:00pm, when the tide would be receding and I could search the exposed, wet sand, without having to worry about the water and waves.

Cheryl and I left our home at 4:30pm and arrived back at Fortunes Rocks at 4:45pm. We went back down to the beach and the family was still there. I could see Alex’s mother down by the water, walking back and forth, looking for the ring. I immediately went down and showed her how I would grid the area and I also demonstrated, with a test gold ring, how the metal detector works and what Alex’s ring would sound like, when my coil passed over the ring. I usually do this with all my clients and not only do they enjoy the demonstration, it seems to relax or relieve them a little bit.

My plan was to perform a horizontal grid search, to the beach and water from where the family was sitting, on the beach, to about 60-75 feet to the north. This would put the area of where Alex lost the ring, right in the middle of the search area. If the surf and waves had moved the ring a little bit, I would still have enough area to compensate, for the movement. It is my experience that once a Gold Ring enters the water, it really doesn’t move to much from where it entered the water, although there are exceptions to this,  that I won’t get into at this time. As I started my grid search, I was confident, the ring would be within the area I was about to grid. I hoped so because Cheryl and the entire family were watching me from up on the beach and I didn’t want to disappoint anyone. The pressure was on.

I made my first grid pass from south to north, with no targets. Took a 1/2 step and headed south for my second grid pass, still no targets. On my 3rd grid pass, going north again, I received a target and after digging it , it was just a small piece of aluminum or tin, just trash. Fourth grid pass, going south again, nothing. Fifth grid pass heading north once again and BANG, I received a nice solid low tone, that I had been hoping for. The VDI screen, on my Minelab CTX-3030 was showing 12-27. This was a definite gold range reading. I put the scoop into the sand two times and threw removed sand, up onto the surface. I removed my pinpointer as started searching the pile of sand for my target. I finally saw the very small outline of a Gold Ring. I motioned to everyone up on the beach to come on down because I had found the ring. Alex and his brother ran down and I asked them If they could see ring, in the sand, they couldn’t see it and I pointed it out, to them. The rest of the group arrived and I showed them the very small piece of the exposed ring and they were all very amazed, happy, excited and stunned that the ring was found. We all chatted for a few minutes about how great it was to have this passed down family ring, back on Alex’s finger, where it belongs. Family heirloom’s are more than just a piece of jewelry. They are memories, of the family, that never leave the piece of jewelry, no matter who it now belongs to.

I absolutely love it when I am able to return a lost ring, to the owner and see nothing but smiles, all around. Another photo for my “Book of Smiles”. There is no better feeling and I am once again, on cloud nine.

 

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White Gold Wedding Ring, Lost In The Goose Rocks Beach, Kennebunkport, Maine Sand, Found With A Metal Detector

  • from Old Orchard Beach (Maine, United States)
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As I was contemplating mowing our lawn, I received the following text, at 12:02pm, on Saturday August 17th.

“HI! We are on goose rocks beach and lost a wedding ring :(“
I replied
“So sorry. Were you in the water or on the Beach (Dry Sand)?”
The reply came back
“Dry Sand. My husband feels like he knows the general area”
I replied
“Ok, Are you there now? Is the area he lost it, packed with people or will I be able to search now?”
She replied
“You can search now. I think it’s pretty open. I’m going to have him call you.”

I then received a call from Scott and he told me they were on the beach, across from The Tides Beach Club, on Goose Rocks Beach, Maine, in Kennebunkport Maine. Scott was curious as to how quickly I could get there. I told him within 30 minutes, depending on traffic, from my home, in Saco, Maine. I told him I just needed to get my equipment, in the vehicle and I would be on my way. I can usually get to Goose Rocks Beach, in just under 20 minutes, but today there was a Festival going on in Biddeford, Maine and I knew that the traffic would slow me down a bit.
Cheryl and I loaded the equipment and left for Goose Rocks Beach. We arrived approximately 25 minutes later and found a parking spot, just down, from The Tides Beach Club. As we walked onto the beach, a couple of women saw us with the metal detecting equipment and told us that they were with the group, that Scott was with. The women yelled over the group and Scott started walking towards us. While walking to the area, I asked Scott how he came to lose his ring. He told us that they had just finished having lunch, on the beach and they were standing around talking. Scott told us he was just standing there and while talking, he was fidgeting and spinning his wedding ring around his finger. All of a sudden, the ring slipped off his finger and he saw it fall into the sand. He searched the sand, along with others, in the group but they couldn’t find it. Now, I know what you’re thinking, but trust me when I tell you, it is not easy, visually finding a ring, while in the sand. Afraid of pushing the ring, deeper into the sand, the group stopped searching, for the wedding ring. Scott’s wife had known of my service and that’s when she texted me.
Scott showed us the area where they had been searching, for his ring, and I could see the disturbed sand, where the searching had taken place. I turned the Minelab CTX-3030 on and knowing this should be a fairly quick search, I didn’t extend my detector shaft, to full length, nor did I put my headphones on. I slowly swung the detector for about 30 seconds, when I heard the low tone I was hoping to hear and I told the trot that I believed the ring has been found c I pulled my pinpointer out and located the target, in the sand. It took me 3-4 attempts to actually pull Scott’s ring out of the sand, even though my pinpointer had located it. The group broke out in applause, as they saw the ring, in my hand.
Thankfully, I am able to help people out in their time of need. The ring had been pushed down to approximately 4 inches, under the sand and Scott would never have found it, visually searching. Thankfully, the group also stopped searching as they may have kept pushing the ring deeper or even outside the original search area. I was found an Engagement Ring, that was moved 10-12 feet outside the search area, because of all the walking, the searchers had done, in the area.
Scott is extremely pleased tonight and he is once again wearing his wedding ring. Me, I am also very pleased, for helping Scott and I got out of mowing the lawn, at least for today😉

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Prescription Ray Ban Glasses Lost In The Old Orchard Beach, Maine Ocean, Found With A Metal Detector

  • from Old Orchard Beach (Maine, United States)
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Monday evening, August 12th, I received the following text

“Hey my name is Meaghan ****, I lost my glasses at Old Orchard Beach. Would your metal detector be able to detect glasses?

I immediately replied back

“Hi Meaghan, So sorry to hear this. I am actually in Raymond, Maine at the moment and if I do search for the glasses, it would have to be, first thing in the morning. But a few questions

1) When did you lose them?

2) Where exactly , did you lose them?

3) I have detected glasses, in the past, that have metal on them. Do these have metal on them?

Also, just to be up front, I do not charge for my Time or my Metal Detecting Service. I do however, require a Transportation Fee of just $10.00 to Old Orchard Beach. This is to cover my gas, tolls, wear and tear, etc..”

Meaghan replied back with,

“I lost them today at 3pm in the water right next to the pier on the left side, they do have metal. I have a picture of my sunglasses that are the same exact frame as my regular prescription glasses. I live in New Hampshire and had to go back down for the night but I can come back up to OOB in the morning to meet up with you.

I replied with, “

Ok, in the water means I need to figure out the tides, etc.. if I get a good description of the area, I can go down by myself, tomorrow morning.

I also want to let you know that once glasses are in the water, sand and surf, they are very, very unlikely to be wearable again. I have been metal detecting for almost 25 years and the glasses that have been in the water, sand and surf will  have scratches on the lenses and possibly bent frames. Just so you know. Not trying to discourage you from trying to find them but just want you to be aware of the strong possibility of the glasses not being any good”.

Meaghan replied with, “I kind of figured they would be unwearable, when I first get them back, if they are found. I did get insurance on them so I can get the lenses and frame replaced, Unfortunately the insurance I got does not cover loss.”

I told Meaghan that the insurance changes everything and I would absolutely attempt to find them. Meaghan told me the prescription glasses were in excess of $600.00 to replace but only if she can get her missing glasses back, because they weren’t insured for “loss”. She has replacement insurance for accidental damage but only if she still has the glasses. I just need to find them and save Meaghan, over $600.00.

I sent Meaghan a photo of the Old Orchard Beach Pier area, in which I made square areas and numbered them. I then asked Meaghan if one of the numbered sections, were the area she had lost her glasses. She replied

“I was knee high in the water when a nice wave took me out and then another took me under, so I wasn’t too far in. I was not even 100 ft from the pier on the left side of it. And I would not expect anyone to go in the water if it’s not safe conditions. It was section 8.”

I told Meaghan that the heavy wave action and rip currents, may keep me from going out into the water but that would be determined, in the morning, when I arrived, at the beach to search. I told her my plan was to arrive, at the Pier area about 9:30am, for an 11:38am low tide. I would search the slope , down to the water and if the glasses were not found, on the slope, I would enter the water and continue to search.

I did arrive, just prior to 9:30am and the beach was fairly empty. I immediately got to the top of the slope and searched horizontally, to the water. I was searching the slope, from the OOB Pier, to Surf 6, back and forth, back and forth, finding nothing but a few coins. I had been keeping Meaghan updated with the search and had sent some photos. She agreed that I was in the correct area and that the glasses shouldn’t be too far out, in the water. I entered the water and continued the back and forth, horizontal search. I went up to Surf 6, turned around, came back to the pier, turned around and headed back towards Surf 6. Maybe 50-75 feet from the pier, I received a broken up signal, in my headphones. Loud, but not a sold tone and definitely broken up and scratchy. I have heard this signal before and thought this just may be Meaghan’s glasses. I was now, knee deep in the water and though the waves were much calmer than they have been recently, I still had to watch the rolling waves, so I wasn’t surprised and get knocked around. I plunged my scoop, into the water and sand, pulled it up and nothing. I rechecked the hole, I had just dug and the target was still there. I took another scoop of sand and I saw the glasses fall out of the scoop, as I pulled the scoop, out of the water. I reached down as quickly as I could and grabbed the glasses, on the sandy, ocean floor. I then walked out of the water and took a few photos and sent them to Meaghan. She replied

“Omg thank you so much! I have to get gas and I will be on my way to grab them!”

Meaghan, who lives in the Manchester, NH area, told me she would be arriving approximately 12:45pm. I told her that I would be available to meet her, just let me know when she was close. When Meaghan arrived at the Hannaford’s, in Saco, I returned her glasses and she was so excited and happy, to have them back. She said she was heading right to the Optometrist and getting a new pair of glasses. I am so happy to have helped Meaghan save in excess of $600.00. I absolutely love helping people with my Emergency Metal Detecting Services and now, I have a new addition, to my “Book of Smiles”.

As with all clients, I will honor their wishes of not have their photos, published on social media. Meaghan has asked me not to use her photo and I will honor her wish.

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Sentimental Wedding Ring Lost In A Large Ocean Wave, In Old Orchard Beach, Maine, Found With A Metal Detector

  • from Old Orchard Beach (Maine, United States)
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On Sunday, August 11th, I awoke to see multiple referrals, from my Facebook followers. A Men’s Wedding Ring, was lost in the ocean, the previous day, in Old Orchard Beach, Maine and my followers were telling the person to contact me. Since I had already been booked, for the morning, I did not contact the person that had made the posting. I figured I would wait and see if I was contacted, by the time I returned from my morning search. When I returned home, I still had not been contacted. A short time later I did receive the following text message, on my phone.

“Hello, I had a few folks recommend you and mentioned that you may be able to help me out, I lost a ring yesterday while I was at old orchard beach when I was in the water. I’m not super confident and think it most likely has been lost to the ocean but wanted to see if it would be worth a shot to try and find it. I have a picture of the ring and a location of where I was on the beach if you think you’d be able to take a look for me. Let me know, thank you”!

I replied

“Hi, So sorry to hear this. A few questions 1st
1) You say you lost the ring, in the water. Did you see or feel the ring come off?

2) Do you know what time you lost the ring. I will try to figure out the tide. Was it high tide, low tide, etc.. As you may know, the Rip Currents and Waves have been very bad, this summer. I may need to search, when the tide allows me to.

3) What area of OOB?

Also, just to be upfront, I do not charge for my time or my Metal Detecting Services. I do however, require a Transportation Fee, to cover my gas, tolls, wear and tear, etc.

Thank you, Dennis”

Patrick then replied with answers, to all my questions and since he lost it in the water, The tide wouldn’t be right, until approximately 7:00pm, when it would be receding and I could start searching, the area.
Cheryl and I arrived at 7:00pm and the tide had been receding for approximately 2 1/2 hours but was still very high, up on the banking/slope. I decided to start at the top of the slope, where the high tide line, meets the dry beach sand and work my way down to the bottom of the banking/slope and hopefully I would find it there. After 2 hours, at 9:00pm, I was now in the shallow water, at the bottom of the slope , in the dark, and the waves were rushing up all around me. I decided to end the search, for the night and return 1st thing, in the morning, when the tide and wave action would hopefully be easier to deal with and I could actually see what I was doing, In daylight.

I arrived back at the location at 7:30am and the tide was almost to the bottom of the slope. Patrick and I had agreed that I may not have been in the correct location, the previous night and I would move the search about 100 feet north of where I had been. The video I had sent him the night before was difficult to actually say I was in the correct locations. It is extremely hard to verify an area, when you can’t be there and are just going by a video. I sent Patrick a new video, when I arrived, In full daylight and he thought my new location was the correct location.
So, I went 1/2 way down the slope and started searching again. I was just gridding the area, horizontally to the water and following the receding tide out. Like the night before, I found a few targets, a few pull tabs and a kids Hot Wheels sports car. After approximately 25 minutes, I was very near the very bottom of the slope, when I received a beautiful low tone, that got my attention, quickly. The morning sun was extremely bright and I couldn’t see the VDI #’s on my detector’s screen, but I was loving the low tone. I plunged the head of my scoop, into the wet sand and threw the scoop full of sand, up onto the slope. I located the target, with my pinpointer and slowly wiped the sand, off of the top of it. I then saw, barely, the outline of a Gold colored ring. Could it be Patrick’s? Patrick had sent a photo of the ring and described his ring as,

“Yeah it’s this ring here, it’s a simple white gold band with yellow gold edges”

I picked the ring out of the sand, rinsed it off, to reveal a simple white band with yellow gold edges. Yes, I had found Patrick’s ring. I broke out, into my happy dance and had a very large smile, appear on my face. I then took a video and some photos, that I sent to Patrick. After receiving the video, Patrick replied

“Oh my god that’s it Dennis! You’re incredible thank you so much, I really really appreciate it. I work in North Berwick so I can meet you wherever is easiest for you once I get out of work this evening”

We made plans to meet up, once he got out of work. Patrick’s wife, Becky, also commented on her Facebook post, about the lost ring and said

“The Ring Finders of Maine you are absolutely incredible, Dennis. My husband and I are so incredibly grateful for you and your talent! This was the BEST possible news we could have hoped for. Thank you again!! ❤”

After leaving the beach dejected, the previous night, I was now on cloud nine, this morning. I called Cheryl, to come pick me up and as I waited for her arrival, the big smile m never left my face. I am so thankful and grateful, to be able to help people out in their time of need. I will now be adding Patrick, to my “Book of Smiles”.

Later this evening, Patrick sent me the following text

“Dennis, I truly can’t thank you enough, this ring had a lot of sentimental value to me and my wife and I definitely thought it had been lost for good. I will be more than happy to review you and recommend you to anyone that would need your services in the future. And my wife and I will be celebrating our 1 year anniversary in September, but we’ve been together for 11 years now!”

WOW!!! Patrick will now have his Wedding Ring, back on his finger, for his upcoming 1 Year Wedding Anniversary. Now that is a great way to end this story.
Happy 1st Anniversary, Becky & Patrick ❤️💍❤️

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Third Generation Gold Signet Ring, Lost In The Old Orchard Beach, Maine Ocean, Found With A Metal Detector

  • from Old Orchard Beach (Maine, United States)
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This is a continuation of Recovery and Return #62,

At 2:03pm on Wednesday, August 7th, I received a phone call from Lissa. She told me that her daughter, Kaitlin had just lost a Gold Signet Ring, approximately 10 minutes earlier, at high tide, in waist deep water. Lisa told me she and her daughter, were at the end of Seabreeze Avenue, in Old Orchard Beach, Maine. I told Lissa that I had a 4:00pm booking, for a lost Wedding Ring, in Ocean Park, Maine, but would be happy to search for the Gold Signet Ring, as soon as I was finished, in Ocean Park Beach. I then told Lissa, I wasn’t sure what time I could get there because I wasn’t sure how long the Ocean Park search would take. I promised her, I would be there, as soon as the Ocean Park search ended, even if I had to search, in the dark. Lissa agreed and told me they would be going out to eat, sometime between 5:00 and 5:30pm. I asked Lissa to send me some photos and a video, of the area and I would start searching, by the photos and videos, if she was unavailable, when I arrived.

When the tide and heavy surf wasn’t cooperating at Ocean Park. I left my client my backup detector, at 5:00pm and told him I would be back, when the tide was out a little further. My client could continue to search, while I was gone. Cheryl and I then left for Old Orchard Beach, Maine and sent a message, to Lissa, telling her I was on my way. She replied that she and Kaitlin would meet me at the bottom of Seabreeze Ave.. Cheryl and I arrived about 10 minutes later and Lissa met us, at the beach access path and walked with us down to the beach. The tide was way out there, unlike Ocean Park and Kaitlin was already out on the wet sand, in the area she thought she lost the Gold Signet Ring in. Kaitlyn told us that she was waist deep and she felt the ring come off her finger. She tried grabbing the ring, as it came off her finger and descended into the water and sand, to no avail. Kaitlyn and Lissa, told us that the Gold Signet Ring was actually Lissa’s Aunt’s ring and Kaitlin’s Great Aunt and has her initials on it. The initials engraved on the signet ring are, LWM. The Signet Ring had been passed down, to Kaitlin and the ring has lots of sentimental value and they were very anxious to get the ring found and returned.

I then showed Lissa and Kaitlyn how my detector works and threw a Gold Test Ring down on the wet sand, so they could hear what it sounds like and to verify the detector is set up properly. I also showed them how I would grid search the area, that Kaitlyn had said the ring was lost in. I set up my boundary markers to overshoot the area by about 20 feet, on each side of Kaitlyn’s markers, just in case the ring had moved or Kaitlyn was a little off, of her area. I then started the search and went down to the first marker, took a 1/2 step over, to my right and headed back in the other direction. I then took another 1/2 step, this time to my left and headed back to the other end. A third grid line was then performed and still nothing, at all. I started my fourth grid line and about 5 steps into it, I heard a very nice low tone, the kind that get my attention. The sun was to bright and I couldn’t see the VDI numbers, on my detector but there was no way, I was going to pass up this target. I was so confident that this was the ring, that I yelled over to Lissa, Kaitlyn and Cheryl, “This may be your ring”. As they walked towards me, took a scoop of sand and threw it up onto the wet sand. I saw the outline of a Gold Ring, saw it was a Signet Ring. I reached down, held up the ring and told them, “I found the ring “. Lissa and Kaitlyn were in disbelief and ran over to me and they both gave me a big hug. They were so happy to have the very sentimental Gold Signet Ring back. They told me that the lost ring and me finding it, would dominate the talk at the dinner table, when they went out to eat afterwards.

So, a 3rd generation Gold Signet Ring, is back with the family and there are smiles, on everyone’s faces. I just love to be able to add another recovery, in to my “Book of Smiles”.

Now I had to get back to Ocean Park and search for Tom’s Wedding Ring. I had after all , left him with my backup detector, to continue searching, while I waited for the tide and waves to recede. To see the rest of Tom’s story, please go back and read about Recovery and Return #62. That’s right, his ring was found and The Ring Finders of Maine helped in returning 2 different rings, to 2 different people, on the same day, for the 2nd time, this summer. I just absolutely love helping people out, in their time of need.

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Wedding Ring Lost In The Water, While Tossing A Football, In Ocean Park, Maine, Found With A Metal Detector

  • from Old Orchard Beach (Maine, United States)
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I received a phone call at approximately 1:20pm, on Thursday August 7th. The woman calling told me a Wedding Ring had been lost at Ocean Park, Maine, approximately 15 minutes earlier. After asking a few questions, that she was relaying to someone else, she put Tom on the phone. Tom had been tossing a football with a friend, about 40 minutes prior to the 2:00pm high tide. Tom told me he was in the water and when they stopped tossing the football around, Tom noticed he was no longer wearing his Black Tungsten Wedding Ring.

Since the tide was still incoming, I agreed to meet him, in Ocean Park, at 4:00pm. This would be a full two hours, after high tide and hopefully the tide would be out far enough to search for Tom’s wedding ring.
Then at 2:03pm, I received another call. Someone has lost a Gold Signet Ring, 10 minutes earlier, in Old Orchard Beach, Maine. I told her, that I could come search for the signet ring, once I finished my search in Ocean Park Beach. Thankfully, the Ocean Park location and the Old Orchard Beach, Maine location were only 2 miles apart. I then texted Tom and asked him if I brought a backup metal detector, would he be willing to help search for his ring. This would speed up the whole process and with two searches lined up, Tom enthusiastically agreed.
Cheryl and I met Tom at 4:00pm and was surprised to find the tide was still very high. I set up both detectors and showed Tom the basics and even brought a Tungsten test ring, to show Tom the readings, on the detector and the sound.
Tom and I searched the slope of the beach but the waves were still very very rough and strong. After searching , for a hour, it looked like we wouldn’t be able to get to the bottom of the slope, for another hour or so, as the waves rushed up the slope, I asked Tom if he wouldn’t mind if I drove down to the next search, a few miles away. This would allow the Ocean Park tide to recede further out and hopefully, when I returned to Ocean Park, we could continue to search, further Dow the slope and onto the flat area of the beach. I also told Tom that he looked trustworthy and that I would trust him with my backup detector, so he could continue to search for his ring, as the tide slowly receded.
Cheryl and I then left for search #2. We arrived at the Old Orchard Beach location at approximately 5:25pm and Lissa met us. We parked the car and all walked down to the location of where Kaitlin, Lissa’s daughter had lost her Gold Signet Ring, in the water. The rest of this search, will be in my next story.
Cheryl and I got back in the car and headed back to Ocean Park. I saw a text come in from Tom and it said

“Found it! If you let me know where you are I can bring you your equipment”.

I replied, “That’s awesome. On my way”.

Cheryl and I arrived a few minutes later and met Tom. Tom told us that he did find the ring, on the bottom section of the slope and not the flat section. He also estimated the ring had already sunk, close to 9 inches, in the very soft, soupy sand. WOW! What a great recovery. Congratulations Tom!

Our goal at The Ring Finders is to get the clients lost item, back to the client. If that means bringing an extra detector or two, so be it. I find that when the client gets involved, they really enjoy the experience and when they end up finding their own ring, they are simply ecstatic. I am also ecstatic to be able to add to my book of smiles.

 

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Gold Wedding Ring, Lost Surfing At Scarborough Beach State Park, Maine, Found 3 Days Later, With A Metal Detector

  • from Old Orchard Beach (Maine, United States)
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On Tuesday evening, July 30th, I received the following text at 8:20pm.

“Hi, I lost my wedding band this evening surfing at Scarborogh Beach. Given the story you have on your website, it looks like this kind of thing happens out there. Please let me know next steps and what your fees are, as I’d be very interested in having you help out.
And fyi I was surfing roughly in front of the beige locker/structure about 200 yards north of the lifeguard stand. I can take a picture of the approximate location tomorrow morning.
Thanks,
John”

I replied to John, with the following,

“John, So sorry to hear this. Let me see if I have a photo.
I will say, that the rough seas and rip currents won’t help. It could actually move the ring, some distance. Fortunately the sand at Scarborough Beach State Park, is extremely hard packed and it won’t sink very deep, in the next week or so, but could be moving, as I mentioned.
I don’t charge for my time or my metal detecting services. I do require a Transportation Fee, to cover my gas, tolls, wear and tear etc..
The tides will also have to come into play as the searches go much better, at low tide, so I can cover more ground”.

John agreed and I sent another text, with some questions, for John and he replied,

“1) yes, I was diving off my board and diving through a wave and it came off somewhere in that process
2) about 6:30pm tonight
3) I wasn’t very far out since it was about an hour from peak high tide so waves were breaking close to shore. I bet I was somewhere around where your scoop is in that photo, considering that it was high tide and I was mostly surfing in front of that beige locker.
4) Gold on outside, I believe white gold on inside, inscribed on underside with “forever”

I then looked at my scheduled commitments, tide charts and weather forecast. It looked like Friday 8/2/24 was the best day for me. Low tide would be at 4:15pm and I would arrive at Scarborough Beach State Park at 1:00pm and follow the tide, out, until 4:15pm. This would be almost 3 full days, since the ring was lost. Thankfully SBSP has a very hard packed sand, with lots of rocks and shells, just under the sand. This condition will not allow the ring to sink, out of range, for a few weeks. Unlike areas, in Old Orchard Beach, where the sand, in some areas is almost like quicksand and jewelry will be out of range of my detectors, in days, not weeks.
Cheryl and I arrived at 12:45pm and the line to get into the park was backed up, out onto the Black Point Road. The line moved quickly and once on the beach, we looked around and it was extremely busy, on this 90 degree day. We then walked down to the surfing area and set up our chairs and umbrella. Cheryl would have a front row seat, to watch me grid the surfing section.
I decided to perform a horizontal search, to the water and just follow the tide out. The tide wasn’t a very low, low tide, but from John’s description, I thought the tide should expose enough of the wet sand, to expose the ring.
After approximately an hour and twenty minutes, I caught up to the receding tide and decided to swing back up and start searching, via the same grid pattern, a little higher up on the sloping beach. I made one north and one south grid search and started my third one, when I received a very promising signal. A low tone and 12-13 on my VDI screen, signaling a non ferrous, low conductive metal. A great combination for gold, but also a nickel, foil and a few other common metals, could be under the sand. I plunged my scoop, into the wet sand, dug a hole and threw it up onto the surface. I couldn’t see the ring but something caught my eye, as the sun was hitting it. I wiped some sand off of the item and I saw a gold ring. Could it be John’s? I picked the ring up, rinsed it off and saw that it was both White and Yellow Gold, as John described. I looked at in inside of the ring, for an inscription. I saw an inscription of “FOREVER”, again, just as John described. I had found John’s Wedding Ring, in approximately 1 1/2 hours.
I then made a video and took a few photos and sent them to John. His reply,

“Incredible! Thank you so much. Just left you a message so look forward to connecting when convenient.”

We made plans to meet at the Saco Hannaford at 7:30ish. It was now just about 3:00pm and I was able to sit in the beach chair, under the umbrella , with Cheryl and enjoy this fine summer day.
Cheryl and I met John and his wife Jennifer at Hannaford’s and an extremely happy John, emotional Jennifer both gave me a big hug. They have been married for 21 years and they were just so happy to have John’s wedding ring back. John did tell us that he has surfed hundreds of times and this is the first time his ring has come off. John also told me it will also be the last time, as he will not wear it while surfing anymore. As we were about to leave, an overjoyed, teary eyed, Jennifer, presented me with a coin. From the DNA DOE PROJECT, the coin represents Innovation, Compassion, Integrity, Transparency and Service. I couldn’t be any prouder and happily accepted the coin, from Jennifer.
As Cheryl and I left, John and Jennifer were still standing, next to their vehicle, hugging and emotional. Knowing just how much the wedding ring means to John and Jennifer, I am extremely grateful that I am able to help people like them out, in their time of need.

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Two Gold and One Silver Ring Lost In The Old Orchard Beach, Maine Sand, Found With A Metal Detector

  • from Old Orchard Beach (Maine, United States)
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On Saturday July 27, my wife Cheryl and I were attending a family event, in Limington, Maine. We were there for approximately 35-40 minutes, when my phone rang at 4:02pm. I answered and a a young lady asked for The Ring Finder. I told her that I was The Ring Finders of Maine. She then told me that she had just lost 2 Gold Rings and a Silver Ring. When I asked where she had lost the rings, she said Old Orchard Beach, Maine. She then wanted to know how much my service charge was. I told her that I don’t charge for my Emergency Metal Detecting Service or for my time. I told her that all I required was a $10.00 fee to cover my gas, tolls and wear and tear, to Old Orchard Beach. She then told me that her father wanted to talk to me. I told him the same thing, about my transportation fee and told him, “$10.00 and that’s it”. He agreed and told me his name was Bill. I then told Bill that I would be there in 45 minutes, as I was driving from Limington and not from my home, in Saco.

I already had 2 metal detectors loaded up, in my vehicle , in the event, of being called out. I immediately left Limington and drove the 45 minutes, to OOB, arriving at 4:53. I met Bill and his daughter, Julia. Julia was visiting her father, who lives in the area and Julia lives in the Montreal, Quebec area. They were staying in Old Orchard Beach, Maine and were enjoying their family vacation.

Once I arrived, I parked the vehicle at the Sir Charles Motel, where the family was staying. Julia then explained to me that she had lost the 3 rings, on the beach and knew the area. They were sitting directly in front of Abellona Inn & Suites. Julia told me that 2 of the rings were Gold and had belonged to her late Grandmother. One of the rings was a Silver Pandora Ring, given to her, by her boyfriend. Julia explained that she had taken the rings off and had placed them in the cup holder, of her chair, because she didn’t want to lose them, in the water. She then went swimming, in the ocean and totally forgot about the rings in the cup holder. A few hours later, when it was time to leave, her brother folded the chairs up, and the entire family returned to their motel room. Once back in the room, Julia remembered the rings and when she checked her chair, they were missing. Julia and her family, retraced their steps, down the street, to the beach but after searching the area, couldn’t find them. It was then that someone sitting, in the area, told Julia to call me, The Ring Finders of Maine.

Bill and Julia then walked me down to the beach. We visually searched the sidewalk and road, in the case the rings had fallen out of the cup holder, while they were walking, along the pavement. No luck. The rings were not on the pavement. When Julia and I arrived at the beach access path, I asked Julia to walk to the location, they had been in, using the same route, that they had left the beach. I would follow Julia and search their exit route. I found a nickel and a few small pieces of foil, but no rings. When I arrived at the location they had been sitting in, I could see where they had disturbed the sand, looking for the rings. I told Julia, I would start at the high tide line and grid back and forth, towards the Abellona Inn & Suites, in which they were sitting, in front of. I searched for about 10-15 feet and I received the tone, I was hoping for, a nice solid low tone. I stuck my pinpointer, into the sand, found my target and pulled out a Gold Ring. Julia yelled out, “Thats my Grandmother’s ring”. I gave Julia the ring and continued my search, but only for 2 steps, as I received another low tone, stuck the pinpointer, into the sand and pulled out Gold Ring # 2. Julia was now extremely happy, getting both of her grandmothers rings back. Now, the silver ring needs to be found. I started my search again, I almost immediately received a nice higher pitched tone, pinpointer in, silver ring out. I had recovered all three of Julia’s rings. She was so happy and I could see the emotions, in her eyes. She kept thanking me and was just so appreciative.
I then drove straight back to Limington, to enjoy the remainder of our family event. Total time I left Limington Maine, parked in Old Orchard Beach, Maine, walked to the beach, searched for the rings, left Old Orchard Beach Maine and arrived back in Limington, was just under 2 hours. There were people, at our family event that didn’t even realize that I ever left.
There is no better feeling, than to be able to return such sentimental items to someone. Every ring has a story and Julia’s rings now have another story, to be told.

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