I got a call from Andrew who had lost a pendant in his yard. The pendant had been lost for a week before he went surfing on the web. He came across ring finders and saw I was a member. This pendant was passed down and mean’t the world to him. It was particularly hard to find because there was a lot of metallic material in the ground. Another very happy ending,
I received the following text message on Sunday, just after noon time.
“I have a lost mailbox key, I live in the Town of Wells, Maine. It’s in my driveway or front yard. Is this something you can help with?”
To make things quicker, I called her back just a few minutes after receiving the text message. I was able to talk with Kim. Kim told me that the previous evening, when she came home after work, she checked her mailbox, at the front of the property and next to the driveway, of the complex. After checking her mailbox, Kim walked across the driveway and lawn, to her front door. When she arrived at the front door, she went to unlock the door and she noticed that the mailbox key was no longer on her keychain, next to her house key. Those were the only two keys, on this particular keychain. Kim told me the keychain had broken recently and she had fixed it but it was now broken again and her mailbox key was no where to be found. Kim told me that she had searched for almost 1 1/2 hours, the previous evening but could not find it. She told me that there were lots of leaves, tall grass in a few spots and the key was gold colored and would blend in with the dead grass. I asked her how big of an area she had walked across and she replied that it really wasn’t a large area but she just couldn’t find it. So, I told Kim I could help her and Kim told me she was at work and she had a friend that was going to look for the key,this afternoon. Kim also wanted to search again when she got home, around 5:00pm. If Kim or her friend were unable to find the key,b she would call me, around 5:30pm.
Neither Kim or her friend were able to find the key and Kim called me, as planned. I told her I could be there in 30 to 40 minutes, with my metal detector. Once I arrived, Kim was standing in the driveway waiting for me. I surveyed the area and saw lots of leaves, around the mailbox. Kim told me that she had moved some of the leaves around but still couldn’t find the key. I came up with my plan of action and would start the search, next to the mailbox. If I didn’t find it there, Kim would take the same route she had taken the previous evening, to her front door. I would follow her and search along the way.
As I was searching around the mailbox, I received quite a few targets, in the leaves. Unfortunately, once I pinpointed the targets, they were all in the ground, other than a Stinking Lincoln penny and the key would not be under ground. Once I finished the mailbox area, I started across the gravel driveway and received a very nice target, with the VDI screen showing it was on the surface, to two inches deep, in the ground. As I ran my pinpointer over the gravel driveway, I found my target. Unfortunately it wasn’t the key, just another Stinkin Lincoln penny. Once on the grass, of the front yard, Kim told me that she didn’t remember the exact route she took but it would be within a 10’ to 15’ wide path. I told her I would perform a north to south grid search and expand it to about 20’, just to be safe and who knows, the key may have been kicked, while kicking the leaves away. My first grid pass had me closer to the street and I searched towards the house. Nothing found above ground and a few targets, pinpointed, were under the surface. I stepped over and headed back to the south and the road. After a few steps, I received a loud repeating signal and when I looked down, THERE WAS THE SMALL MAILBOX KEY. Totally visible now that the few leaves that had been on top of it, were knocked away, by my coil. I turned to Kim said, ‘ Come and take a look at this.” As she walked towards me I pointed to the ground and said, “there it is.” Kim couldn’t believe that they hadn’t found the key earlier. I told her it was hiding, under a few leaves. Kim was extremely happy to have her key back. She didn’t has a spare key and who knows how much it would have cost to get a locksmith to come out and make a new one. Possibly the management company of the complex could have another key made but again, how much would they charge her for losing it? So Kim is going to be buying a new keychain and get a spare made, of her key. After the thank you’s and hug, I left with a nice big smile, knowing that Kim won’t be stressed out this evening, like she was the previous evening. I love my job.😃❤️🙏
Jasmine called me early in the morning, explaining she had spent hours searching for a ring lost in the « very muddy, murky part of the water. » She and her fiancé Bella were distraught, fearing it was gone forever. I tried to comfort and reassure her that I could help. The couple was in Beaufort, NC, celebrating a wedding with some friends. After the wedding, they decided to jump into the Beaufort waters for fun.
Later that morning, I learned the ring, that belonged to Bella’s Grandmother, had been lost while swimming near a boat dock, and attempts to find it in the soft, mucky bottom had failed. Concerned about the water’s depth, I asked Jasmine, who said it was 5-6 feet deep but shallower and muddier near the dock. I planned to arrive at noon, timing it with the outgoing tide. Jasmine felt confident the ring came off as she pulled herself out of the water onto the dock, but no one knew where it had ended up.
I began a thorough search, diving into the muddy water with my metal detector. I found no signals near that side of the dock and started wondering if the ring had fallen through the dock boards onto the plastic support floats. Sliding under the dock, I felt around the floats and even used a borrowed phone to photograph areas I couldn’t see or reach—but still no luck. Returning to the water, I doubted the ring could have slipped through the narrow gaps in the boards. We then decided to search the opposite side of the dock.
After just a few steps in knee-deep muck, my headphones picked up a loud signal that even Jasmine heard from the dock. Digging through the black mud, I finally retrieved the ring. Holding it high above my head, I instantly changed the mood of everyone watching joy and relief filled the air!
This ring was lost in the backyard while removing a pool and doing yard work. He was not sure when it came off so I had to search the entire back yard. It took a little longer than usual but I finally found it in some really tall grass
Tom asked if possibly I would be available to help locate his city water shutoff in the front yard. Years ago, he had done some landscaping, laying down landscape fabric and stones, thinking he would remember the shutoff location. Many years later, he decided to place a box with a lid over the shutoff for easy access in case of emergencies. Unfortunately he was not able to find it partially because of the roots that had grown over the entire area, making it impossible to dig.
I arrived at his house and carefully searched the area until I found the strongest, most consistent signal matching the steel iron of the shutoff valve. A nearby maple tree had sent large roots sprawling through the area, making it nearly impossible to dig. We had to use a hatchet and an axe to cut through the thick roots. Sure enough, about six inches down, we uncovered the valve.
Now, Tom can clear the space and install a commercial access box, ensuring the shutoff will always be easy to locate and use.
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This search started on Sunday Sept. 14, 2025, just before 4 pm with a text from Cody saying, “Hi Jim, I found your number on a metal detecting page. We just stayed at Sands Resort this weekend and my wife put her ring in our backpack cooler for safe keeping. When we went to put our beach wagon back in the car, we dumped out the sand. The backpack cooler never left the wagon and her ring was gone. We can only imagine we dumped it out in the parking deck. I was wondering if this would be something you could help with. We are 4 hours away. I called the number attached to the text message and got a few more details from Cody. One of the things he told me was the ring was a yellow gold wedding band that was part of a set, but this was just the wedding band that was lost. He said they were parked on the 5th level and 2 parking spaces to the left, directly across from the elevator. He also mentioned that they had left to go back home about 8 am that day. I’m thinking that our tourist season is winding down and there should be fewer guests at the resort. I also thought there was a pretty good chance of finding his wife, Desiree’s wedding band. I told him I’d go a little later and would let him know when I was on my way.
About 7:30 pm I sent him a text saying, “On my way.” Since this was going to be strictly a visual search, I grabbed a flashlight and a small fan rake. The rake was in case I had to reach under a car if that’s where the ring was. I got to the resort about 8 pm and needed a parking card to get into the parking lot. I had to go in and explain what was going on to the front desk clerk and she gave me a card to park. As I’m driving through the maze of the parking garage, I’m noticing the first 3 levels of parking were completely full. Not what I was hoping for. When I got to level 5, it was almost empty of cars. I parked 1 spot to the right of the elevator and walked over to the elevator to make sure I was on the 5th level. There was a car parked in the 3rd spot, left of the elevator, but they left after I started looking around with the flashlight. I checked the 1st and 2nd spot and saw nothing. So, as usual when I can’t find what I’m looking for in the area it’s supposed to be in, I expand my search out. I looked out to the 6th spot on the left with no luck, so I started back to the right. As I’m getting ready to move my car, I glanced over on the 2nd spot to the right of the elevator and noticed a small object. As I walked over to it, Bingo, there was her ring just lying on the ground. I took a picture of me holding her ring and one of just the ring and sent it to him. In the text I said, “Cody, you need to go buy you a lottery ticket, now.” He immediately responded, “Brother you are a gift!!!” I called him telling him where I found it. He was positive it should have been on the left of the elevator. So, we’re thinking it either got kicked, flung out of the cooler or possibly rolled over to where it was. How it got to where it was, we’ll never know, but I was glad it did. I asked him to send me his name and address so I could get it in the mail tomorrow, Monday. He and Desiree were very excited to be getting it back.
They got the ring back on Thursday and I got the picture of Desiree and her big smile on Saturday.
Cody – thank you for calling me to help find Desiree’s treasure.
Jim
I found an I phone today that Ryan lost in a field of weeds behind his house. He said that it was lost in June and he had been searching for it ever since. He even purchased a cheap detector but was unable to find it. I was there around three hours gridding different sections before I found it. He put a charger on it and it was charging so I hope it will still work for him.
thanks for the reward Ryan
If you lost a ring / earring / bracelet or any type of jewelry at the beach, in the sand, in the shallow water, or even in your backyard, give me a call, louis at 305-608-1870. I have a Metal Detecting service and can come out and help you recover lost item.
In the pictures above this woman Lost a diamond earring in the shallow waters at the beach the day before. I was able to meet her out there the next morning and within a few minutes I was able to find it. Even if you think it’s impossible and you’ll never see your lost item again give me a call and I’ll find it:-)