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

Gold Wedding Band Lost In The Sand, Recovered and Returned

  • from Old Orchard Beach (Maine, United States)

Sunday July 30, 2023 is a day I will never forget. I was able to recover and return, not 1, not 2, but 3 rings in one day.  The first recovery happened as I was already at the beach and detecting down near the low tide line. A woman approached me and asked if I could find her gold wedding ring. I asked her if she had lost it in the water. She replied that she had lost it up in the dry sand. I then asked her how she lost it. She told me that she had taken her ring off and placed it on her towel so that she could go swimming in the ocean. As we walked to the area where she lost it, she told me her name was Joanne and that Joanne had come to the beach with her family and some friends. When we arrived at the location of where she lost it, she told me that she picked up the towel to dry off, after swimming in the ocean and the ring must have fallen into the sand. She then pointed to the area where she thought it had fallen into the sand. I passed the 17 in coil of my CTX-3030 over the area and on the backswing , I received a sold target and then got the pinpointed out, located the target and Joanne  had her wedding band back. Literally less than 20 seconds to locate the ring.
As she was thanking me, one of her friends asked me if I could find his ring. WHAT,  You lost your ring also? Yes, he replied. Wow, I couldn’t believe it. I will now finish the story on my next blog.

Gold Necklace Lost In The Water And Waves At Low Tide, Very Sentimental

  • from Old Orchard Beach (Maine, United States)

I had seen a post on Facebook, by Kelli,  about a MISSING GOLD CHAIN WITH A CROSS, being lost on the beach. Later that morning, I received a text from Kelli wanting to know if I could help. After talking with Kelli, I found out the Gold Chain and Cross Pendant had been lost 2 days earlier, in the surf, approximately 1 1/2 hours after the low tide. Since it wouldn’t be low tide for another 4 hours, I told Kelli that I would meet her in 2 hours at the Old Orchard Beach, Maine location, where the necklace had been lost, 2 days earlier.
Once I arrived, I met Kelli and her boyfriend, Jake. Jake explained that the waves were really rough that day and the necklace somehow came off his neck and disappeared, into the Waves, Water and Sand. I told them that I would grid the beach, parallel to the water and follow the tide out, hoping the necklace would then appear in just the wet sand and no longer under the water.
I was performing the grid search for approximately 1:20 minutes, when Jake came down to me , near the low tide mark. He explained that he and Kelli had to leave and and were leaving tomorrow morning to go back home, In Massachusetts. I told Jake that I would contact him if I found it and if not, I would be back the next day, at low tide and expand the search. After Jake left, I decided to try the shallow water, as low tide was now upon us. I started a grid search in the water and was working my way towards shore. I finally received a decent low tone signal, reading 12-04 on the Minelab CTX-3030 and put the scoop into the wet sand. I caught a glimpse of 1 gold link of a chain in the wet sand. I reached down, grabbed the link and pulled it out of the sand. I had Jake’s necklace. On 20 minutes had passed since he had left and I immediately called him. Jake and Kelli came right back and I returned the necklace. Jake the told me that the necklace had belonged to his father and that his father just passed away, 6 months earlier. Jake explained that he has  absolutely devastated , the past 2 days and thinking he would never see it again. I am so proud and happy to be able to help people like Jake, in their hour of need.

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Two Lost Gold and Silver Family Birthstone Rings Found in The Sand and Returned

  • from Old Orchard Beach (Maine, United States)

On Thursday July 20, 2023, I received a text, just after 8:00pm, from Leslie. Leslie’s text stated, “Hi! I’m on my annual girls’ trip. At the beach all day and accidentally lost my two family birthstone rings in sand. Can’t find them. Retraced my steps. It’s getting late and I think they go over sand in the early morning. Can you help me? – Leslie”. She is concerned that the town of Old Orchard Beach, Maine cleaning machine would be there early in the morning and swallow up her rings and they would be gone forever. I immediately made plans to meet Leslie at 8:45pm, at the location where she lost the 2 rings. When I arrived , just prior to 9:00pm, I was surprised to see so many people at the beach, sitting on blankets and listening to music from a local beach bar and awaiting fireworks that were to start in less than an hour.
Leslie explained that there were 11 friends sitting around all day and she had taken the two rings off to apply suntan lotion and placed them in the cup holder, on her beach chair. As the day progressed, she had forgotten the rings were in the cup holder and when it was time to leave, folded up the chair and left. Once she realized the rings were missing, she and her friends searched the area they had been sitting in, without any success. They also retraced her steps after leaving the area with the chair, again, with no success. Leslie then attempted to find and rent a metal detector in a Beach store, next to where she was staying. The beach store owner told her they didn’t rent metal detectors but knew of me and recommended that she contact me and he gave Leslie my contact information.
Once Leslie showed me where they were all gathered and sitting for the day, I immediately started to grid the area. After about a 1/2 hour, I had covered the area they had been sitting in. She then told and showed me thecpath she took after leaving the area, with the folded up beach chair. Unfortunately, the path she took was full of people sitting around , listening to music and waiting for the fireworks to start. Still cognizant of the fact the beach cleaning machine would be cleaning the area, early the next morning, I told Leslie that I would be back down at 5:00am and search the area, before the beach cleaning machines could rake the area.
I arrived back at the beach, just before sunrise and immediately started to grid the area. I needed to be fast and through as I could see a beach cleaning machine just about 100 to 150 feet from where I was. I decided to re-grid the the area I had done the previous night, as this was the area where the cleaning machine would be heading next. Still nothing in the area I had done last night but I received a signal about 3-4 feet outside the area I had gridded the previous night. The signal was jumping all around and was not repeating. I slowly passed the coil lover the area and I received a nice solid 12-13 on the CTX-3030. I brushed some sand around and saw the gold ring. Passed the coil over the area again and received a very strong 12-47 and I just knew it was the silver ring. Brushed some sand away and there was the silver ring. Both rings were within 6 inches of each other. Being it was still only 5:20am, I sent a text to Leslie to inform her of the good news. Leslie replied a little while later and was ecstatic. We then made plans to meet up in the early afternoon and she would be reunited with her rings. Upon receiving the rings back, Leslie explained that the gold ring with three stones were the birthstones of herself, her mother and father. Her mother has recently been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and Leslie had expressed her deep gratitude to me for finding her such sentimental rings.

Gifted Silver Ring From Grandmother Lost and Found By A Metal Detector on Pine Point Beach,Maine

  • from Old Orchard Beach (Maine, United States)

On Friday Night, July 7th, I received a text from Domenic. In the text, Domenic stated that a ring, gifted to him by his now deceased Grandmother, had slipped off his finger, while “diving into a wave, approximately 75-100 feet from the high tide line”. Domenic went on to describe the ring as a “simple metal band with LOVE inscribed in a groovy-funky 1970’s – esque writing with a spot below the O, for a gem”. In Domenic’s own words, “I haven’t taken that ring off since she gave it to me 2016, and I’m heartbroken that I lost it”. Domenic also told me he found me through an internet search and that he was back in Boston as he had to work the next day.
I immediately called Domenic back and he described the area where he lost it, while swimming the day before. Since he was swimming at high tide, I told him I would go down 1st thing in the morning and follow the tide out with my metal detector. I arrived at Pine Point, Maine, an area within Scarborough, Maine and about 20 minutes south of Portland, Maine. I fired up the Minelab CTX-3030 at 5:20am and started a grid search, parallel to the beach and just followed the tide out. After 1:44 minutes, I received a strong loud signal, reading 12-46 on the VDI Screen. I scooped out one scoop full of sand and I saw just a sliver of something silver in color, laying on the beach. I picked it up and it was a ring with a funky “LOVE” written across the front. After 2 days of being in the ocean, I had found Domenic’s gifted ring.
Domenic had already gone home to the Boston area, so I sent him a text telling him I had recovered his ring. Domenic sent back a text saying “Oh wow, what a great message to wake up to! You are amazing”. We then made plans to meet up the following day to return his ring. Domenic made the approximately 2 hour drive from his home in the Boston area to Pine Point. We met in Old Orchard Beach and a very happy Domenic received his VERY SENTIMENTAL ring back. Who doesn’t just love a good ending? I am proud to be able to help people like Domenic and return something they thought would be lost forever.

 

Lost Wedding Ring Found in A Maine Lake With A Metal Detector

  • from Old Orchard Beach (Maine, United States)

On Saturday July 8th, I received a call from Amy. Her husband, Johnny, had lost his wedding ring, in the water, at their lake house, in Raymond, Maine, the previous day. After searching the shallow water with sifters and rakes on Friday and Saturday morning without finding the ring, they decided to do an online search for help. They found me on The Ring Finders site and Amy made the call. They were located on Panther Pond, in Raymond, Maine. I knew the area fairly well as they were very close to Sebago Lake, which I have previously been to. I immediately got my equipment together and loaded in my vehicle and made the 45-50 minutes drive to their lake house.
Johnny immediately met my wife and I as we drove up to the house. Jonny explained that he just got married 5 months ago and was very upset with losing the ring in the water. He had been roasting marshmallows over a fire and had gone into the lake to wash his hands. After washing his hands, he shook his hands to dry them off and the ring flew off into the lake. Johnny showed me the area he was in when the ring flew off. I started my slow sweeps along the sand bottom of the lake, with the Minelab CTX-3030, and in less than two minutes I received a nice low tone signal, reading 12-20 on the VDI screen. I got the pinpointer out and located the target. A couple of scoops of sand with my hand and I saw a bright and shiny gold wedding ring. I picked the ring up and showed Johnny, Amy and extended family and friends that were watching and received a big round of applause that made me feel just great. To see the relief and smiles on Johnny and Amy’s faces makes me feel so proud and lucky to be able to help people in their time of need. What a great hobby. Here is wishing Amy and Johnny many many happy years of marriage.

Engagement Ring Lost , Found, Returned, With A Metal Detector, In Ocean Park, Maine

  • from Old Orchard Beach (Maine, United States)

On Wednesday July 5, 2023, I received a call from Lisa. Lisa explained that her friend had lost her engagement ring at the beach, in Ocean Park, Maine, within the last hour. Lisa went on to explain the her friend was still at the beach, searching for the ring with toy sifters and just running her fingers through the sand. I told Lisa that I would be right there, as I only live about 4 miles from where they were.
I arrived and Lisa met me out on the street and took me to where her friend, Sharon was , and where the ring was lost. Sharon explained that when they arrived at the beach, she sat in the beach chair to apply her sunblock lotion. She removed her ring and placed it in her lap, to apply the lotion. After applying the lotion, Sharon got up, forgetting the ring was in her lap. She immediately realized that the ring was now in the sand and started sifting the sand with her hands, fingers and kids Beach toys. They had no luck with this method and realized they needed a metal detector. Lisa found me by asking a local town association if the had a metal detector. They did not but they did have my business card and Lisa called me immediately.
I had them move their metal Beach chairs and searched the area where Lisa had been sitting. No signals around where the chair was and I started moving away from the chair. About 5-6 feet away from the chair, I received a nice low tone signal and a VDI readout of 12-06 on my CTX-3030. Yup, the engagement ring had been found in literally 2 minutes of searching and Sharon was very very happy to have it back on her finger.  Total time from receiving Lisa’s call to recovering the ring was 25-30 minutes.
This will be a birthday that I will never forget.

Sentimental Engagement Ring Found on The Beach in Ocean Park, Maine With A Metal Detector

  • from Old Orchard Beach (Maine, United States)

On Sunday, June 11, my wife and I we out riding our road bikes. I saw my phone going off and a voicemail was left. We rode another 10 minutes and stopped at Camp Ellis beach, so I could check the voicemail. The voicemail was from Tom and his wife had just lost her engagement ring. Molly had lost her engagement ring, in the surf, in Ocean Park, Maine. Luckily, Ocean Park is only about 3 miles from where we were and just 15 minutes away on our bikes. I called Tom back immediately and told him we would be right there. When we arrived, Tom and his wife Molly were still visually searching for the ring, in the now wet sand, as the tide was going out.
Molly explained how she was putting the ring on her hand and it had fallen into the surf she was standing in. She immediately looked up and looked at the house on the shore and used it as a landmark as to where she was located when the ring fell into the waves. A very smart move as knowing the exact location where it was lost is crucial to finding the ring before the tide comes back in.
After Tom and Molly explained what happened and where the ring most likely was, we rode our bikes back home, in about 20 minutes and I got my equipment together. I was back in Ocean Park with in 45 minutes of leaving there on my bike.
I started a grid search, parallel to the beach, working my way in, from the water to the shore, trying to beat the incoming high tide. Tom and some friends continued the visual search while I continued detecting with my CTX-3030, with a 17 in coil. Finally, after approximately a hour and 15 minutes, I received a very strong signal with a great sound low tone. I knew this was most likely the ring. Scoop went in the sand and when I dumped the sand, I could see the gold band. I picked it up, cleaned it off and saw the diamond and two sapphires. We had the ring. I looked over to Tom, gave him a nod of the head and thumbs up. The smile on his face was priceless and I will always remember it.
Tom explained that the Diamond was his Great Grandmother’s diamond from her engagement ring and was passed down to Tom’s mother and used as his mother’s diamond engagement ring. Now, Tom’s wife is using the diamond in her engagement ring, making this a truly sentimental ring, for 4 generations .

Property Markers Missing For Close to 50 Years

  • from Old Orchard Beach (Maine, United States)

I was recently contacted by Nathaniel about some missing property markers on his property, in Hollis, Maine, about 25 miles west of Portland, Maine. Nathaniel had found my RingFinders Metal Detecting Service by doing a Google search for “How to find Missing Property Markers, With A Metal Detector”.  My name was right near the top of the list. Nathaniel asked if I could help locate any of the markers with my metal detector, if the markers were still there at all.  He told me that the home had been built in the early 1970’s and he had purchased the property 8 years ago. Nathaniel was told there were property markers at the time the home was built, according to records he had obtained. He was also told by the previous owner that at least one marker had been removed many years ago. The property is a rural area and his 2+ acres were a combination of woods, field, marshy areas and generally overgrown underbrush.  I agreed to help and arranged to meet him the next morning.
Nathaniel met me bright and early and showed me where he thought one of the property markers should be. I told Nathaniel  that we would dig and investigate every target. As I detected the area, I was finding absolutely nothing. No trash, nails or any other metal was being found. Finally after approximately 30 minutes, I had an iron target. Unfortunately, it turned out to be an old nail.  As I started detecting again, a property marker was visibly seen, approximately 50-60 feet further west than Nathaniel had me detecting in. The marker was found in an overgrown area of new and dead grass.

With one marker found, we proceeded into a swampy area approximately 400 feet into the woods. The area had many downed trees and was very very wet and mucky. I detected and visually looked for approximately 2 1/2 more hours with no luck on the remaining 2 markers. Nathaniel also did a very through visual search while I was detecting the areas. Had the markers been removed years ago by the owner, hunters, kids playing in the woods? Had the markers fallen victim to one of the many fallen trees and is now under one of those large trees? We may never know but Nathaniel now has one of his property markers to start with his surveying of the property.
So, not all call outs are for finding a ring or necklace with a metal detector. Next time you are contacted, you may just be heading into a wooded, swampy area looking for property markers.

Lost Sentimental Gold Wedding Band Found in the Snow, Portland, Maine.

  • from Old Orchard Beach (Maine, United States)

On Monday January 23, 2023, I received a text from someone who lost a very sentimental wedding band, in the snow. Fred, had been cleaning the snow off of his car, during a storm that would eventually drop 10-12 inches of fresh snow on the area, along with sleet and freezing rain.  When Fred got back into his house, he noticed his custom made wedding ring was missing. He went out looking for it around his car but had no luck locating the ring. Fred states that he started to panic, as the plow would be coming back through and was afraid of the plow would take it down the road and be forever lost. Fred rust back inside and frantically searched online on how to find a lost ring in the snow. At that point, Fred found The Ring Finders website. Fred then contacted me with the text message. I immediately called Fred back and let him know that because of the snow day I would not be able to make it to Portland because I was home alone with my 5 year old granddaughter whose Kindergarten school had been canceled. The police were also asking everyone not to travel because of the weather. I then told Fred that if he could shovel the snow from around the car and throw it up onto the lawn, it would be safe from the plow and I could get out to his place the next day or so, if he so desires. Fred said he would let me know and went back outside and shoveled all the snow around his car, up onto the lawn.

I did not hear back from Fred until 3 days later , when he texted me and let me know that he and his wife had been sifting through the snow that he had thrown up onto the lawn and had found the priceless ring.
InFred’s own words.   “Just wanted to let you know that we searched the snow I put on the grass again tonight and found my ring! Thank you so so so much for that idea! I was totally losing my head and you helped keep me sane and I got my ring back thanks to your quick thinking! ”

Fred then went on to tell me how the custom ring was made.Again, in Fred’s own words.                        “It’s gold and white gold with a ruby. It was made along side my wife’s by melting down some old family rings that were given to us for that purpose.” “My wife’s is two rings. The engagement ring sits inside the wedding band. It’s rubies and sapphires.”

So even though I did not find his ring with my detector, I feel absolutely elated that this very sentimental ring is back where it belongs, on Fred’s finger. Fred sent me a photo of his ring and his wife’s custom made ring. Beautiful and now back together  

 

Lost Gold Engagement Ring Found and Returned, in Old Orchard Beach, Maine with a Metal Detector

  • from Old Orchard Beach (Maine, United States)

Hello, my name is Dennis Boothby and this is my 1st blog a a member of The Ring Finders. I have been an avid Metal Detectorist since 2001, almost 22 years. I retired in July 2021 and now have more time to devote to the hobby that I love, Metal Detecting. I find extreme pleasure, joy and personal satisfaction from returning lost rings, jewelry, phones, key fobs or any other metallic objects, to their rightful owners.   I am now a member of the The Ring Finders, a World Wide metal detecting organization whose sole purpose is to return lost items to the owner. How wonderful is that?.  Over the years I have found many rings, phones, jewelry keys, key fobs, etc and have been so fortunate to have returned many of those items to the rightful owners. Most days I can be found metal detecting on the beaches, parks, woods and fields,  in Old Orchard Beach, Saco, Pine Point and Kennebunkport , Maine.  I would consider it an honor to look for lost jewelry or other items that you may have lost. I will hunt beaches, parks, farms, RV parks, yards and other places, as long as permission is granted and it is safe to detect. I can also metal detect in Saltwater and Fresh water, waist to chest deep, as long as I can safely detect the body of water.  If you lost your item where the use of metal detectors is restricted, you would have to gain permission for someone to look for your item with a metal detector and transfer that permission to me.  While I usually metal detect in the Southern Maine counties of York and Cumberland,  I occasionally will travel further.  You may call me to discuss your location.   I charge a $25.00 call out, trip fee to cover travel expenses (fuel, parking, tolls, etc.). Requesting I travel outside my local area would likely increase the trip fee, usually .50 cents per mile over 30 miles from my home,  but that will be discussed at our initial contact.  I work on a ”Reward Basis Only”… that means you pay what it’s worth to you and what you can afford to have me find your lost item.  I am a member of The Ring Finders and you may find out more about this organization on their website.  You can also search  on YouTube for “The Ring Finders” to see many videos of successful recoveries of lost items.  If you have lost a treasured keepsake or other types of valuable items, please call or text me today, to see if I might be able to help recover it. Why rent a metal detector when a professional from The Ring Finders can help you ?

Thank you and I am looking forward to helping reunite you with  lost item.

Dennis L. Boothby

Cell Phone – 207-423-3027