Jim Wren, Author at The Ring Finders | Page 4 of 31

Man’s Yellow Gold Wedding Band Lost in the Ocean, Recovered and Returned North Myrtle Beach SC

  • from North Myrtle Beach (South Carolina, United States)
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This little adventure started Wednesday around 3:30 pm with a text from Kelly saying, “Hello is this Jim Wren? I was just searching online and came across Ring Finders which lead me to your contact. My name is Kerry, a poor soul who lost his dang wedding ring here in North Myrtle Beach. It popped off while throwing a football around in the shallow water where the tide comes in just outside our hotel. Just curious if you might be available Jim? Feel free to respond via text or call. I’m here until Saturday this week. If not, it’s no problem at all. Thanks for your time, man.” I immediately checked the tide tables; low tide was just before 2 pm.  I then called Kelly to discuss the circumstances. He said he had lost it about an hour prior to his text and was in thigh to knee deep water.  I told him I’d be there in about 15 minutes, grabbed my detector and was on my way.

When I got to the beach, I met Kelly’s brother when he came up to me. He introduced me to Kristen, Kelly’s wife. As we were talking, Kelly came up and showed me the area where they were throwing the ball. Luckily, Kelly is right-handed, so the ring didn’t get thrown off. I was 2 hours behind the tide change, but the ring should be in water no higher than my waist. I started an east/west perpendicular grid search, going low and slow with the detector. I wasn’t picking up any targets at all. As the tide was coming in I was working in deeper and deeper water.  I was finally up to my chest when I got a great signal. The signal was what I expected for a man’s yellow gold ring. I was able to get a scoop of sand out, which was empty – no ring. As I find the target again with the detector, I wasn’t paying attention and got hit with a big swell that knocked me backward. From that point, I wasn’t able to find the target again, even though I tried. To get me back in the area on my return, I walked off the steps back to the beach and even with a drainage pipe. Total of 89 steps, give or take with me getting pushed by the current. I wasn’t able to do a good search, so I told Kelly I’d be back the next day, Thursday and called it a day.

I showed up around an hour before low tide so I could get a head start. I met Kelly and Kristen to let them know I was there and went to work. I walked off the 89 steps, plus another 15 or so steps. I’d rather search too much area than not enough. I started my east/west grid and extended my north and south boundary lines. I was getting nothing! The ring should be right there, but I wasn’t finding it. I then started a north/south grid line running parallel to the beach. For me, parallel grids are more difficult because it’s harder to keep a straight grid line. Still with no luck, I took a break to refocus. After my break, I started another east/west grid, tightening my grid lines. I finally hit the target I found the day before and dug it out of the ocean sand. Boom, it was a cap off an orange juice bottle. I had a few choice words and continued. I took another 4-5 steps and got a very iffy signal with the numbers jumping all over the place. I dug the target, shook the wet sand out in the water, and when I looked inside the scoop and there was Kelly’s yellow gold wedding band looking up at me amongst all the shells. I walked up the beach to where Kelly and Kristen had been sitting all day. I was exhausted but made it look worse than it was so Kelly and Kristen would think I was done. I had slipped Kelly’s ring on my index finger and when he was talking and looking away, I held my hand up and when he turned towards me, he saw his ring and froze. I got him! After I gave him his ring, I learned that his and Kristen’s rings were very special and sentimental to them. Both rings were custom made and each of their rings had 3 stones in them that they got from Kelly’s mother and grandmother. Priceless!

Kelly and Kristen – Thank you so much for trusting me to help find your very special ring. Enjoy the rest of your vacation, have a safe trip back home to Ohio, and I wish you two only the best in life,

Jim

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Heirloom Yellow Gold Engagement Ring Lost in the Sand, Found and Returned Myrtle Beach SC

  • from North Myrtle Beach (South Carolina, United States)
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Coming off an unsuccessful ocean ring search, I got the following text from Jason. The text read, “I lost a ring on the beach yesterday around 5:30 pm. It’s a gold ring with two birthstones. We were at Ocean Lakes Resort. We went onto the beach at the Lovestone Dr entrance and were sitting directly in front of the first set of blue chair rentals to the right when you enter the beach. My name is Jason.” He also included his phone number which I called. I got a few more details and told him I’d be there in about 20 minutes. First off, the facility does not allow businesses on the premises. Secondly, they don’t give out visitor passes without the owner’s, not the renters, permission. So, I ended up telling the clerk I wasn’t a business and then I had to park across the street at a Walgreens and have Jason come pick me up. After all that Jason and I finally made our way to the beach.

When we walked out the beach, it was packed with tourist. Jason told me he lost the ring when his fiance, Molly handed him the ring to hold. He put the ring in his lap and forgot about it until he stood up and the ring went flying and disappeared in the dry sand. They had asked a young gentleman with a metal detector to look, without success. Unfortunately, with all the families, I had a very limited area I could search. I did get a couple of people to move but not many. I did what I could and talked to Jason and we decided it’d be better for me to come back in a couple of hours.

I showed back up 2 hours later, and Jason and I went through the same process of parking and getting in the facility. When we walked out on the beach this time, there was nobody in the way. Jason verified the area, and I started a grid search. As I got to the end of where Jason thought the ring should be, I got the signal I was looking for. I dug a small scoop of sand, shook it out of the scoop and saw Molly’s engagement ring in the bottom. I held it up for Jason to see, and I could see the relief come across his face. We decided we’d surprise Molly, so Jason put the ring in his wallet. On the way back to the house, Jason explained that the ring was his grandmother’s ring. When Jason and Molly got engaged, she gave the ring to them as a gift. Jason said he was up most of the night before trying to figure out how to tell his grandmother the ring was lost.

When we got back to the house Jason handed his wallet to Molly and asked her to take out all his cash for me. She took out some and Jason said “No, all of it.” As she pulled out the last of the bills, her eyes welled up and the tears started coming. She jumped off the sofa and gave me a huge hug. I looked at Jason and said, “This is what it’s all about!”

Jason and Molly – Thank you for trusting me to help find your lost treasure. I wish you two all the best in life,

Jim

 

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Man’s Titanium Wedding Band Lost in the Surf, Recovered and Returned Sunset Beach NC

  • from North Myrtle Beach (South Carolina, United States)
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Just after 3 p.m., I got the following text “Hey Jim, my name is Mike. I’m at Sunset Beach and just lost my wedding band in the surf. Any chance you can help me?” I called the number attached to the text and spoke with Mike. I asked him about what time and how deep he was when he lost it. He replied he had lost it about an hour prior and was 2 feet deep. A quick glance at the tide tables and he was just about high tide when he lost it. So, I told him I could be there in about 30-40 minutes. I figured by the time I got there; the tide would be out far enough that the ring should be calf deep. Mike agreed to have me come and I was out the door.

When I arrived at their rental house, Mike’s sister met me in the driveway. We walked down to the beach access, and she pointed Mike out to me. I met Mike and I got a few more answers and then he led me out in the surf where he thought he lost his ring. He took me farther out than I thought his ring would be, but that was ok, I’d rather search more than less area. I followed him back in, set a landmark on the beach to guide my lines the best I could, and started a grid search. On my second line coming back in towards shore, I hit a great signal and knew I found his ring. It took me 3 scoops to get his ring out of the sand in calf deep water. When I got his ring in the scoop, I shook the scoop under water to clear the sand out. I was positive I had his ring when I heard the clatter of his ring hitting the metal of the scoop. I pulled out his ring and started walking to the beach. I watched Mike as he got out of his beach chair and start walking towards me. He had a look of uncertainty on his face until I held his ring up and then his face turned to disbelief. He told me I was amazing and then said that took maybe 4 minutes. I’ll take that!

Mike – Thank you for calling and allowing me to help get your ring back where it belongs. Have a great rest of your vacation and a safe trip back home.

Jim

 

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IPhone lost in the Dry Sand, Found and Returned North Myrtle Beach SC

  • from North Myrtle Beach (South Carolina, United States)
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I got a call from Cassidy just before noon saying she had lost her phone last night around midnight. She said she lost it in the dry sand, plus some other details. She gave me the address, and I told her I’d be there in about 20-30 minutes. Grabbed my gear and was on my way. When she originally called, she said she was in Myrtle Beach. Since North Myrtle Beach and Myrtle Beach are two separate cities having the same names, it makes it tough sometimes for tourist to distinguish between the two. Cassidy told me she was around a local pub, so I knew I was headed to North Myrtle Beach.

When I arrived at the beach, it was packed with people and a heat index of over 100 degrees. I met Cassidy and she showed me the area where she was sure she lost her phone. I really thought the IPhone would be on top of the sand as it’s too big to disappear in the sand like a ring would. I did the best I could, weaving in and out of the beach goers without disturbing them too much. Cassidy was talking to one of the beach chair rental guys and he asked me if I needed him to move people. Although I’ve done that in the past, I normally just keep working the area until they get the hint and volunteer to move. He walked up to 2 separate couples and got them to move their belongings and chairs, but I still had to contend with the umbrellas. I cleared the first area and as I was working the second area, I got the unmistakable signal of a cell phone. I gently stuck my scoop behind the target, so I wouldn’t damage it, and lifted the sand out of the hole. As soon as I did, out popped her IPhone. As I turned it over to see the brightly colored case, she came running. She was so excited and thankful.

Cassidy – Thank you for allowing me to help find your IPhone

Jim

 

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Man’s Yellow Gold Wedding Band Lost in the Surf, Found and Returned North Myrtle Beach SC

  • from North Myrtle Beach (South Carolina, United States)
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I got a call just after 3 p.m. today from Nate asking if I could help find his wedding ring. I had just finished up my yard work, so I was hot, sweaty and dirty. I agreed to be there in about 20 minutes and apologized for what my appearance would be. I asked him about what time he lost it and if he was in the water. He said he lost it about 1:15 or so and they were in ankle deep. Great news because we were in an outgoing tide, so by the time I got there, the ring should be buried in the wet sand.

When I got to the hotel, I met Nate in the parking garage. We walked out to the area he lost his ring. He explained that he was playing catch with a football and his ring slipped off his finger. The good part was he’s right-handed, so the ring didn’t get thrown off. He showed me the area; I confirmed the type of ring and went to work on my grid search. I didn’t get too far and as I made my turn, I asked him if I had gone far enough on that grid line. He had me extend my line by a few feet and when I took a couple more steps, I got a solid 13 on my detector. A small man’s gold ring can ring up at 13, but so does a pull tab and a nickel. This particular target was a nickel, so I kept going. A foot away I got a signal reading 20-21, 95% of the time this will be a penny. Thinking it was a penny and that I had come across a coin drop of numerous coins, I didn’t dig it up. Mistake!!! After gridding a couple more lines and thinking about the “Penny”, I asked Nate about the size of his ring. In my experience a man’s thick heavy gold ring could ring up in the high teens. Just so there was no doubt in my mind, I went back to the signal and took a scoop of sand. As I pulled the scoop out of the hole, I saw the shimmer of yellow gold in the sand on the side of the hole. I don’t know if Nate saw it, but I reached down and pulled the ring out of the sand. Nate, with no hesitation confirmed it was his ring. This was a lesson learned for me. Nate was so relieved he had his beautiful wedding band back where it belonged.

Nate – Thank you for trusting me to help find your lost treasure. Enjoy the rest of your vacation and all the rewards of being a new father. Happy Father’s Day!!

Jim

 

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History Repeating Itself Averted! Stainless-Steel Chain and Silver St. Christopher Medal Lost, Found, and Returned Wrightsville Beach NC

  • from North Myrtle Beach (South Carolina, United States)
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Just before 8 p.m. on Tuesday, I got a call from Robert asking if I could help find his stainless-steel necklace with a St. Christopher Medal. He told me he had called the Ring Finder closer to Wrightsville Beach, John Finnerin, but didn’t get an answer. I could tell by the desperation in his voice that this necklace was very important to him. I told him I’d give John a call and if I couldn’t get him, I’d be on my way. John didn’t answer, so I called Robert back and told him it’d take me almost an hour and a half to get there. Unfortunately, Robert and his wife were already home from vacation, so I needed a good idea of the search area. On the way up to the beach, I called Robert back and discussed all the necessary details I needed. He told me that he rarely took the necklace off. When they set up their chairs for the day on the beach, he took the necklace off and put it in the chair cup holder. When they were packing up and leaving the next day is when he realized his necklace was gone.

When I arrived, and found a place to park, I called Robert back to confirm I was at the right beach access. He also gave me a couple more landmarks that lined up with where I was. I made my way down to the beach access and out on the beach. There was about a 3-4 ft cut (where the waves wash away the sand). Again, I called Robert to verify whether the cut was there the day before, He said it was and they were sitting in front of that, towards the ocean. I got as much information as I needed and went to work. I started at the top of the cut and took my search out to about 15-20 yards on each side of the middle of the access. Within15 minutes, and as I made my 3rd turn to go in the other direction, I got a loud solid signal. The number on my machine was showing me 29, which normally is a quarter. I dug the shallow target out, turned on my headlamp and looked in the scoop. In the bottom of the scoop, there was St Christopher looking up at me. I walked back to the car and took a picture and sent it to Robert. I then called him, and I could tell he was extremely relieved his necklace, and the medal were found, I told him to send me his address, and I’d get it in the mail the next day.

I was curious about the back story concerning the necklace and medal, so I text him. With his permission here’s his story in his own words. “My dad gave that necklace to me when I was 13 (I’m now 25, so 12 years ago). His dad’s mom gave him the same kind of necklace when my dad was around that age too. He wore it at all times. Well, my dad wore his necklace to Wrightsville Beach one year some time in his early-mid-twenties and he lost it in the ocean. Sadly, his mom had passed away between giving him the necklace and him losing it, so it was a really tragic loss for him. My dad ended up getting another one, but he always warned me to not wear mine into the ocean, To this day, I’ve never worn mine in any body of water for that reason. I’m usually extremely careful with it. However, because I wear it all the time, sometimes I forget when it’s on or off. It feels like a part of me. I didn’t realize I had worn it down to the beach on Monday. I was careless when I took it off and placed it in the cup holder of my beach chair. After being on the beach all day, I had forgotten that I put it there. My wife and I started packing up our things, and it must’ve fallen out into the sand right then and there without me realizing. I wouldn’t realize that it was missing until the next morning when we started packing up to go home. Sorry for the long text! There’s a lot to tell being somewhat of a family tradition.”

Robert – Thank you for sharing your story and allowing me to help find and return this precious treasure back to where it belongs.

I heard from Robert today (Friday) and his treasure is back home!

Jim

   

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Man’s Tungsten Wedding Band Lost in the Sand, Found and Returned North Myrtle Beach SC

  • from North Myrtle Beach (South Carolina, United States)
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This 3rd ring call of the day started with a text from Cayla. Cayla’s text started with “Hey how much are your services?” I told her that I do this on a reward/gratuity basis with 10% going to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital in Honor of the giver. She responded saying “My husband has no faith on you finding his ring, we are in north Myrtle. He shook his hand and the ring flew off. This was around 12 this morning.” I ask her to call me. I was within blocks of where they were staying, so I pulled into a parking lot and waited for a response. In the meantime, I sent her a link to my Ring Finders page showing my Bio, number of finds, etc. When she did call, she told me her husband thought she was crazy because he thought his ring had been taken out to sea. When she told me the ring had come off in the dry sand, I assured her the ring would be right where it came off. I also told her if she was real sure of the area he lost it; we had a great chance of finding it. Cayla agreed to have me come over.

It took less than 10 minutes to get there, and Cayla met me in the parking lot. We walked out to the beach and were followed by many members of the family, who all doubted the ring could be found. Cayla and a few others showed me the area. I thought this should be a piece of cake, except for the metal drainage pipe that ran underneath the sand. I started a grid search and turned down the sensitivity as I passed over the pipe. Within just a few grid lines, I got a solid 17 on the VDI (visual Display Indicator). I knew that number was exactly what I was looking for. I looked up at Cayla and gave her a little smile and started digging. It took 3 scoops to get it out of the hole, which surprised me, but I got it out. After finding it in the sand from the scoop, I held it up and Cayla came running. She was happy we found it, but I think happier that she made the right decision to call for help. Cayla and I had fun teasing the doubters, especially her husband Brittian when he came down to the beach. All in good fun!

Cayla – Thank you for trusting me to help find Brittian’s lost ring. So glad I could help and have a good time doing it. All the best to you and yours!

Jim

 

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White Gold Necklace with Diamond Pendant Lost in the Sand, Found and Returned North Myrtle Beach SC

  • from North Myrtle Beach (South Carolina, United States)
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This was my second call of the day, and it started with a text from Emma saying, “Hi I saw the website and I lost a necklace. I’m not sure of your pricing. I lost a necklace, it’s very sentimental to me and I will pay anything just to find it again. We’re in North Myrtle. Is there any way we can pay you to help me. Just give me a call back or text messages. Thank you. Have a good one!” I called the number attached to the text to get more details. One of the things she told me was that the necklace and pendant were stainless steel. Emma explained that her mother had gotten her the necklace and that her mother has since passed away. I told Emma I had a slight delay but would be there as quick as I could.

When I got there, I met Emma at the boardwalk to the beach, and we walked out on the beach. Emma told me that she had taken the necklace off and given it to a friend. The friend put it in a hat and set it on the beach. As they were leaving the beach, the friend picked up the hat and put it on his head. At that point he remembered the necklace, but it was too late. The necklace quickly disappeared into the dry sand. They spent a lot of time looking for it with no luck, hence the phone call to me. I started outside the search area, but Emma moved me a little lower on the beach. A couple of grid lines, I hit a solid 10 on the metal detector. Since she said it was stainless steel, I was expecting a signal in the 20s. I moved the sand with my foot looking for the item. Finally, I got a little glimmer of something shiny. I reached down and pulled out Emma’s Necklace and handed it to her. I told Emma that I thought her necklace was white gold instead of stainless steel based on the number I got on the detector and what I was looking at. Regardless of the metal it is or isn’t, Emma got her very precious necklace back and was very happy.

Emma – Thank you for calling me and letting me help find your very sentimental necklace back where it belongs.

Jim

 

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Man’s White and Yellow Gold Wedding Band Lost in the Ocean, Recovered and Returned North Myrtle Beach SC

  • from North Myrtle Beach (South Carolina, United States)
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Shortly after 11 a.m., I received a text from my son-in-law, Donnie who’s a North Myrtle Beach Police Officer asking, “Can you come to 23rd Ave South, ring?” I replied “sure.” He then added, “It’s in the water, kind of shallow but the tide is coming in. 2 hours before high tide.” He also sent me a name (Clete) and a phone number. I called Clete to get a few more details and told him I’d be there in about 10 minutes.

When I arrived at the beach, I met Clete as I was coming off the boardwalk. He walked me out to the area where he had marked the spot with a kid’s shovel buried in the sand. He said it was 50 steps out to the area. I looked at what 50 steps would approximately be, and I was prepared to get wet, but 50 steps would put me under water. Then he let me know it was 50 heel to toe steps, ok a little better.  I had him mark off the steps and he ended up about waist deep in the water. I turned my machine on and started my walk out to him. The water was cold!!! I caught a few waves that put me shoulder deep, but things were good. I did a couple of grid lines from shore to the spot with no luck. I then started at his spot and worked a grid around that spot. Suddenly, I got a good signal ringing up between 10-12. For the type ring he described, I was in the ballpark. I had to keep the coil on the target and butt the scoop up against the coil. Then move the coil out of the way to try and dig the target. After the third scoop, I had the target in the scoop. I let the waves wash the sand out of the scoop and Bingo; Clete’s ring was staring up at me from the bottom of the scoop. I removed the ring and clutched it in a closed fist as I walked back to shore. I looked up and saw Clete and Ashley, his wife, making their way towards me. Clete asked, “Did you find it?” I held out my fist and handed his lost treasure back to him. He was so relieved and grateful.

Donnie – thanks for the referral!

Clete – thank you for trusting me to help find and return your precious treasure. You and Ashley enjoy the rest of your family vacation!!

Jim

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Man’s Rose Gold Wedding Band Lost in a Severe Storm on the Beach – Found and Returned North Myrtle Beach SC

  • from North Myrtle Beach (South Carolina, United States)
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Last night I received a text message about 12:20 am from Savannah saying, “Hello, my husband and I are at North Myrtle Beach, and we were out this afternoon taking family pictures with our children and got stuck in a really bad storm and as we were running off the beach my husband’s ring flew off. I was wondering if you guys helped find rings or if you knew someone that could. We know the area it fell off but think sand is over it due to how bad the wind was.” I immediately responded asking her to call me, which she did. I got a few more details and told her I could be there in about 10 minutes. She agreed, so I grabbed 2 detectors and headed out. I don’t like to leave a ring on the beach for too long. There’s so many locals and tourist that metal detect all hours of the day/night depending on the tides. So, there’s always a chance a ring will be found and kept by the finder.

I arrived at the location and Savannah and her husband, Dwight was waiting for me in the parking lot. They walked me out to the area, and I could see that they had put in a good effort to try and find the ring with their hands. It wasn’t a real big area, but after quite a while of gridding and then cross gridding, I wasn’t finding Dwight’s ring. They decided to call it a night sometime after 2 am, after I assured them I’d text them when I found it. I grabbed my second detector, with a 15” coil out of the car and started all over again. I expanded the search area 10 ft past the end point and worked an east/west grid. I went from the bottom of the dunes to the top of the slope, probably 35-40 yards end to end. By now, I was way outside the assumed area Dwight said he felt his ring slide off his finger. After at least another 30 minutes, I got a very loud and solid signal. It showed me a vdi (visual display indicator) of 20-21. Of all the rings I’ve found, a man’s Rose Gold band was not one of them, so I didn’t know what number to expect. I dug a shallow scoop of sand and saw a quick glimmer of gold as I lifted up the scoop. Shook the scoop and there was Dwight’s ring sitting in the bottom of the scoop. BINGO! It was now 3 am, but I text Savannah anyway with a picture of the ring. Almost instantly she responded, “Coming down now, thank you SO MUCH. We met up and I handed Dwight back his lost treasure. Both were extremely happy. We met up again this afternoon so I could get some pictures. This is their last day of vacation so at least it’ll be a good one! Looking back on this find and discussing it with Savannah and Dwight, there’s no logical explanation of how the ring ended up so far away from where it should have been. The only thing we could come up with is that the wind was blowing so hard, it literally blew his ring 30-40 yards down the beach. It was a very strong wind though!

Savannah/Dwight – Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to help find your treasure. Best of luck to you both and have a safe trip back home.

Jim

 

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