Richard Browne, Author at The Ring Finders | Page 6 of 21

Ring Returned on Harwich Cape Cod, MA Beach

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A year had passed since wedding vows were exchanged on a small footbridge and today another emotional moment took place just over the same footbridge, a cherished wedding band was “lost” in the sand. A very stressful hour passed with many hands helping in the search the sand for the ring. A few calls had been made one to the police, one to the beach superintendent two to my wife, Jane, who finally got in touch with me. I had been out detecting and was on my way home. That segment of the trip would have to wait, I was now on my way south, not west to my home. At this point I was unsure just which beach I needed to end up at. Jane relayed messages between Catherine the beach’s gate attendant, Sarah, and me. I arrived at the beach with a big sign telling me were to find Sarah, thanks to Catherine’s foresight as the beach was about to close for the evening.

Sarah had removed her rings to apply sunscreen lotion, putting the rings safely in her pants pocket. Lotion applied, it was the removal and folding of her pants when her engagement ring fell from the pocket into a beach bag, The wedding band did not follow the engagement ring, but rather fell on the sand and disappeared from sight. As it usually happens, many of the beachgoers helped search the sandy area to no avail. The ring would not see the fading sunlight until my third signal when I recovered it. I left the ring in my scoop so Sarah could remove the ring and place it back on her finger.

Several hugs, congratulations, cheers from near-by beach goers filled everyone’s face with a smile. Catherine even showed up as the many Thank Yous continued and the usual picture taking and answering of questions followed. It was time to leave the beach and as we did a nice chat was had between three of us, Sarah, Josh her husband, and myself. It was difficult for me to tell just who had the biggest smile. It really did not matter, the “lost ring” had been found and returned. A beautiful ending to a beautiful day on Cape Cod.

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Covell’s Beach, Barnstable, MA: IPhone found and returned

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August 27, 2022

No phone call for this find and return. I was just finishing up an enjoyable evening of metal detecting and heading across the sandy beach when I found the best find of the evening, an IPhone.

The IPhone had a Find My Phone application on it. Unfortunately, I had no idea of how to use the app. I saw the battery was charged and the phone appeared to be functioning properly, but it was “locked” and I did not have the password to “unlock” it. Whatever I did, the phone started ringing. Again, I pressed the displayed prompts and I was connected to Krista.

The phone was Krista’s daughter’s and it had fallen off the beach chair as they were leaving the beach. At home Jenna went to retrieve the phone from the car’s trunk but could not find it. That is when the “Find My Phone” app was activated. If you are reading this blog and have a cell phone, I would suggest you learn about the app if you do not already know about it. As I personally have an Android phone and I have the splash screen instruct anyone that may have found the phone to call my home number. Now I will look into the Find My Phone app and see if there is one for the Android.

Back to the return: After a quick chat Krista said if I waited at the beach, she would be there to pick up the phone in about 15 minutes. I just had to wait as I know how important a cell phone with all the photos and information one needs is very important to them. Besides I also needed some information and photos to complete this blog. The time passed, Krista and Jenna arrived on time and the rest is filled with smiles, Thank Yous, and above all a promise for a personal note for my scrap book of Happy Memories.

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Lost Cell Phone Returned to Owner at Bayview Beach, Dennis, MA

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August 20, 2022
I was called to find a bracelet but as I was searching, I was asked “Had I found the phone? What? No, I was looking for a bracelet. I saw disappointment in the inquisitive face. I could not let it go, I said where was it lost and was it waterproof? Here and yes, it was waterproof. OK, I will search for both.

After about two hours of searching and finding only two beer bottle twist off caps and two pull tabs I was beginning to think there may be something wrong with my detector. No, it was just that the beach was heavily detected, and all good targets had been removed. Then my ears began to ring with a sound like I had just swung the detector’s coil over a large beer can. But I had to scoop carefully just in case it was a precious object. Yes, it was the yellow phone. Mike came over to me and in disbelief said: “It is still working!”

A couple of quick Thank Yous and he was off toward the shoreline. I continued to search for the Bracelet. A few minutes later Mike and his niece Pina came back into the water and thanked me again.
I had no means of taking any information so I asked if they would please text me with the information I needed for this blog. It is so wonderful that I get to see many smiling faces and hear cheers form the beach goers when I get to return a precious item and in this case an item filled with many photo memories, ones that could not be replaced.

Unfortunately, I have not yet found the bracelet that I had initially been called to help find. I had stayed well after dark on Saturday and returned Sunday morning for another two-hour search. I will return mid-week and expand the area of search. It is not time to give up hope, there are other detectorists I will keep in touch with as one might just find the bracelet before I do. Until then I will keep Pina’s smile in my phone and perhaps it will bring a bit of good luck for me to locate the bracelet.

Mike: thanks for not giving up on your family’s and your searching efforts. Had you left without giving me your contact information, I may not have been able to unlock the phone and retrieve information that would have led to Pina. And I would not have a wonderful smile to remind me of her hope to have her phone returned.

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Lost Ring: Lighthouse Beach in Chatham – Cape Cod, MA Found and returned!

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August 9, 2022
Seals, sharks and sand were all in their place, but Connor’s new wedding band was not. It had slipped from his ring finger as he rinsed off his hands in the waters of Lighthouse Beach. He and his wife reached out to Luke, another RingFinder, for help in recovering his ring. Luke was unable to leave work, so he called me to help in finding Connor’s ring. I made arrangements with Connor to meet up just before low tide to search for the ring. I had planned to detect a few freshwater beaches as many of the local saltwater beaches were closed to swimming due to the presence of Portuguese Man of War jellyfish. Leighton, who is also a RingFinder, would also join in on the search. It is great working as a team, it also helps in the probability of finding the lost treasure.

The four of us met up for the walk to the area where Connor had spent many previous visits over the past several years. Christina was to stand at the edge of the water where Connor had rinsed his hands. Connor stood high on the sand where he had had been sitting. The area between the newlyweds set up an area for the search as the exact moment of loss was not known. Leighton and I now started the search. First the sand and slope would be searched. Then the water would be last as sharks were known to prowl the area. That is why we saved it for last and would be very aware of anything lurking in the water.

Gridding the dry and wet sand only had one hidden pull tab that was found. We headed onto the steep slope and into the water where the sharks have been seen and the ring was most likely waiting to be found. My first target was the head of a metal fishing lure, all that had not rusted away. The second was the ring. It was looking very shiny and in perfect condition. I left it in the scoop and headed up the beach’s slope to the area Connor and his wife were standing. What a joyful reunion it was seeing the ring replaced onto Connor’s ring finger.

It was now time for the half mile walk back to the parking lot. After the exchange of a few more Thank Yous, other information and picture taking before it was off to dinner and another night of celebration for Connor and Christina. The honeymoon was back on.

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Craigville Beach, Cape Cod, MA Lost Ring Found and Returned

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July 27th, 2022

After a four-hour search for a lost ring, we returned to Leighton’s truck. We listened to a voice message about a lost wedding band. As the loss was on the opposite tide side of Cape Cod, we were on our way, hoping for a better search result; it was not yet time to call it a day. Leighton and I have teamed up for a few reasons: 1) companionship while traveling, 2) it increases the chances to find a lost item, and 3) we can cover twice the area in the time it would take one of us to search it alone.

We met up with Doug. After some fancy parking and a short synopsis of the previous day’s happening Doug led us to the area where he had lost his wedding band while teaching his 3-year-old daughter the thrill of the summertime beach. Feelings of a great beach day got a bit more intense when Doug lost his balance and braced himself with his left hand on the sandy bottom of Nantucket Sound. His daughter stayed high and dry, more than Doug could say about his wedding band. It had slipped from his ring finger and was to stay submerged for a day.

Several searchers using snorkels and goggles were unsuccessful in locating the ring just after it was “lost”. As usual our searching started with a grid search around the area Doug was standing at when he felt the ring slip from his finger. A crisscross search failed in locating the hiding ring. About 40 minutes into the search, I started a diagonal search pattern going well beyond the center of our previous search area. I am glad, as is Doug, that I went some 35 feet closer to the shoreline where I heard an all too familiar tone in my ears. About 10 inches down into the moving sand the wayward ring was in my scoop. It stayed there until Doug came to look into the scoop and identify the ring. Yes, it was his.

After a walk and talk going back to the parking lot, a few pictures, and many Thank You gestures from Doug he was on his way home. Wearing his wedding band and a smile from ear to ear he was anxious to get home and tell his wife the ring had been found and returned to his finger. I may be wrong but I think I heard Doug mention something about letting his wife wait a bit longer for the news so he could show and tell about the find in person.

Leighton and I both felt much better than about 2 hours before. Earlier we had not given up on searching for the other ring we were searching for. We just needed to rethink our search technique, change our detectors and their coil size and return another day to continue the search…We Never Give Up Hope!

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As printed in The Cape Cod Chronicle July 7, 2022

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Finders Come Through
Editor:

While recently swimming with his brothers at Harding’s Beach, our grandson Colin, found that the cross given to him by his parents for Confirmation in 2019 was no longer attached to his neck chain. It has a very special meaning for Colin, and he was devastated when he lost it. The family searched along the shore for the cross to no avail. Colin’s grandmother, my wife Mary, would not be deterred, and after obtaining the contact number for a metal-detector service who had left a business card at the parking shack, contacted the Ring Finders, an organization of individuals who are dedicated in providing their services, their slogan being « We never give up. » We thank two dedicated guys, Rick Browne and Leighton Harrington, for their efforts, which resulted in the recovery of the cross in two feet of water three days after it was lost. TheRingFinders.com is the website of the world-wide organization for anyone in need of their services.

Dave Devine
West Chatham

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Apple iPhone10 found at Smuggler’s Beach Cape Cod, MA and returned.

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July 7, 2022
The 4th of July passed without anyone calling for help in finding a lost item. Tuesday was a day for a walk in the ocean keeping up with exercise and keeping the old body moving. It was after three coins in the first hour before I heard a big target. My first scoop missed it, the second was taken with a bit more care not to mar the object which turned out to be an Apple iPhone 10. I continued on detecting with Leighton who was finding just a very few finds also.

Back at the car, the iPhone powered up but was locked and had almost no charge. We turned it off and went on to detect in a few freshwater ponds. At home I put the iPhone on the charger and after about a half an hour of charging I tried to power it up again. This time I saw a message on the screen that the phone had been reported as LOST. The best was the last sentence “Please call 508-xxx-xxxx”, which I did. Luckily the group had only started their way off Cape Cod heading home. They had been in traffic for about an hour, turned around and in less than a half hour they arrived at my home to retrieve the phone. A few quick pictures, a grateful hug and they were off on the trip back home again.

Justin, the owner of the phone that had been bought with his mother’s help had all of Justin’s photos and personal information which he was more than thrilled to have back. He had been on the beach, but not in the water and believes the phone fell out of his pocket. The tides over the 5 days it was in the salt water must have pulled the phone into about 3 feet of water where I found it. Had Justin’s friend, Colby, not put up the notice on the phone there would have been no way for me to unlock and retrieve any information that might have been used to return the phone. We all agreed that everyone should have this type of information on the startup screen or on an I.C.E. (In Case of Emergency) screen, just in case…

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Wedding Band Lost/Found/Returned Pleasant Bay Orleans, MA

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(June 25th)
An enjoyable summer day at Pleasant Bay’s Jackknife Cove almost ended in a not so pleasant afternoon. Derek had put his wedding band safe with his glass’s case where it stayed for the hours of beach time. When it was time to leave for the afternoon Dalia took her one-year old’s sun tent down and shook the sand off. Unfortunately, the ring was shaken off with the sand and landed with a “tink” which was heard by all before it disappeared into the sand. As it happens 95% of the time all the searching would not retrieve the ring. It was time for sophisticated equipment to help in the search.

40 minutes after I received a call for the needed help I was standing on the beach with my detector in hand. I was shown where the tent had been. OK I started searching the immediate area of some 10X20 feet. Unbelievable but only two trash targets were found. I checked my equipment, covered the area again with the same results. OK I had to increase the area and added another 10 feet to the breadth of the search area and there it was. I actually saw the ring resting in the sand as I passed my detector’s coil over the ring. I guess Dalia had shaken the tent a bit harder than we thought. I scooped up the ring and let Dalia remove it from the scoop. Smiles, Hoorahs and Thanks with picture taking followed.

Dalia and Derek’s 3rd anniversary in July will not be spoiled by the absence of a wedding band. Congratulations!

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Drone Lost at Sea, Found and Returned, Cape Cod, Massachusetts

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(June 16) After a trip to Martha’s Vineyard to find and return an earring, finding a drone, finding the owner of a wedding band that had been lost for a year it was time to work on returning the drone. The drone was in good condition less one missing propeller. I removed the battery and found a memory card. I cleaned off the contact and inserted the card into my computer. Bingo! Pictures and videos from 2019 to the day before I found drone. From the media I determined the owner’s car registration number and home state along with the resort he was staying at. With that information in hand, I went to the resort. First, I searched the parking lot as I remember seeing a red Subaru when I was making my previous return of a wedding band the day before. Dang, wrong registration plate, but I did see a Mercedes with a very similar plate number, and it was from Vermont.

The front desk was reluctant to give me any information and rightly so, I understand about privacy laws etc. So, I left them the information and my card. I also left some information on the windshield of the Mercedes before leaving to search for a lost hearing aid, which I did not find. I will go back and re-search the area with a different detector in hope for a better outcome. While I was on the search, the owner of the drone, Hank, called and we set up a time to meet and make the return.

Hank had been flying his drone at dusk when it took its AI a bit too far, banking hard left and downward, fast. This was the second time for the wayward drone to do something unexpected. This time its undesirable landing area was salt water. Hank tried to retrieve the drone but lost sight of it and could not find it nor did he find it the next day. That might have been because I had already found it.

The outcome was the best that could have happened, if nothing else Hank has the media memories from flights of the drone over the past 3 years. Is it time to back-up your memories? Something Hank and I will think of doing during this coming winter.

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Wedding band lost twice, found twice. Yarmouth, Massachusetts

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(June 14) The Vacationing wedding band has found its way back to its owner for the second time. Twelve years ago, Jim felt his wedding band slip from his finger into the depths of a Maine lake. Then a year later Jim was snorkeling in the area where the loss occurred and to his luck the sun was shining just right and reveled a sparkle from his ring that was just sitting on top of rock some 6 feet below the surface. Jim did a shallow dive and retrieved the ring and replaced it on his finger.

All was well until last year while vacationing on Cape Cod. With the excitement of a quick dip in Nantucket Sound Jim forgot to leave his ring on shore, safe with his wife, until his return. You guessed it…the ring once again took a vacation from Jim’s finger. Eleven months later I was enjoying a late spring afternoon of detecting when I happened upon the ring in waist deep water. With only a name and date I had little hope of finding its owner. Six weeks later I was in the same area detecting with little success of finding even a single coin when a strong signal was heard. The target turned out to be a Parrot drone. As I put the drone in my pouch, I was approached by Jim who had the usual question…Find anything? I showed him the drone and then he told me of losing his wedding band last year. His description said it was engraved with his wife’s name Karen. That rang a bell and I told him I just might have the ring at home and I would search my finds and call him back that night.

I was running a bit late for dinner…it was ready just as I walked into my home. I ate dinner, had a cup of coffee and nodded off to sleep. I woke with a startle; I had not looked for the ring or called Jim. Three minutes later I had the ring in my hand and dialed Jim. Unbelievable, the way things happen at times. Jim and I set a time to meet and for me to return his wedding band. The meeting turned into a luncheon with a great conversation on detecting and life experiences.

This was about the end of the story with smiles and happiness all around. Our last thoughts were about the drone not knowing that I would find the owner and return it the next day.

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