#How Do I Find A Lost Gold Ring In Maine Beach Sand Tag | The Ring Finders

Engagement Ring Thrown, Lost And Damaged In Windham, Maine, Found While Searching With A Metal Deto

  • from Old Orchard Beach (Maine, United States)
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The Ring Finders of Maine, With Recovery and Return #211

I received a phone call from Madison, on Sunday May 10th. Madison explaind that she had gotten into a heated “discussion” with her husband Jake, two days earlier, on Friday. As they were standing near the end of their driveway, in the Town of Windham, Maine, Madison took her engagement ring off and threw it across the very busy road, they live on. She immediately regretted that decision and told me it was not like her to do that. Madison and Jake then went acoss the road, to where they thought the ring had landed, in the leaves, grass and lots of roadside trash. Like any situation with witnesses they each saw something different. Madison thought the ring went to the left of her and further back in the leaves, near a rock wall and the woods. Jake thought the ring went to the right and would be closer to the road, in the leaves. After a long search, without success, the couple knew they needed help. Madison called her father for advice and he recommended his friend, who had a metal detector. Her fathers friend arrived, Friday evening and it was now dark outside. He was shown the area and after a search of the area, he could not find the ring. Now what? Keep searching is what they did. The next day, Saturday, both Madison and Jake spent hours searching for the ring in the leaves, grass and trash. The couple told me it was an was an exhaustive search and they had given up hope of finding the ring visually and would no longer keep searching that way. Madison told me that she couldn’t give up hope and gave it one last shot of searching visually, on Sunday morning. The result was the same and even though the area had already been searched with a metal detector, they personally did not know him or if he had any experience finding rings. That is when they decided to call The Ring Finders of Maine. It was now approximately 1:30pm and I told Madison that I would be there by 3:00pm. I just needed to get my gear together and drive the 45+ minutes to Windham.

I arrived at their property at 2:45pm and was promptly met by Madision and Jake. Madison told me she was standing next to the driveway parking spot, that I had just pulled into and threw the ring “as hard and far as I could”, across the two lane road. I looked at the distance to the other side and my first thought was, “could she have thrown the ring that far?” Madison had been standing 15-20 feet back from the breakdown lane, then there were the two lanes, another breakdown lane before the leaves and grass, where they thought the ring was. I then said “Are you sure you threw it that far? I don’t think I could throw it that far. Did you check the road on Friday, after you threw it?” Madison and Jake told me that they indeed checked the road, two days prior and had not found the engagement ring. They both believed the ring made it into the leaves but couldn’t agree if it went to the left or to the right. Ok then, lets start searching. I would estimate a 100 foot long stretch of the road to approximately 25 foot depth to the rock wall needed to be searched. I brought my 9” coil for this roadside search because I know that roadside searches with have decades and decades of metal trash , foil, pull tabs, etc. , above and below the surface. I needed the small coil so I wouldn’t get overloaded with lots metal trash targets, all at the same time. This could cause me to miss the very low tone of a gold engagement ring, if all I am hearing is 30 year old beer and soda cans, under the surface. The road runs Northeast – Southwest and I started by heading southwest, right on the edge of the roads curbing, checking the leaves and the gravel, on the road. I still wasn’t convinced the ring made it to the leaves. As I finished my first grid pass, along the road, nothing but cans and foil were found. Heading Southeast now and it started to rain lightly but still no ring. The rain really started coming down now and then we heard the rumble of thunder and a flash of lightening. Because of the circumstances, I called the search off and told them I would be back very early, in the morning, to finish the search.

When I arrived home, I called Gary Hill to see if he was interested in joining me. He agreed to come and help and I told him the situation. We arrived back at Madison and Jake’s home, at 6:30am. I showed Gary the search area and told him that I really had my doubts that the ring made it that far across the road. Gary was also skeptical and he searched the grassy area, just in front of where she had been standing, before the greakdown lane. No ring. We both agreed that if the ring had been in the road that it most likely had been hit and could be anywhere up or down the road. Anyways, Gary and I started searching the area between the breakdown lane and rock wall. After a half hour or so, still no ring. Madison then came out and started searching with us. I then asked Madison to do a test for us. I didn’t have a test ring with me but I did have a penny. I asked her to go to where she had been standing , when she threw the ring. I asked her to throw the penny as hard and as far as she could. I was more interested in the direction the penny went in than the distance. The penny and ring are completely differtent in size and shape so the distance could be different but the throwing motion would give me the direction. After throwing 3-4 pennies, we knew that the direction was the ring went to the northeast BUT not surprisingly every single penny hit the road and dd not make it to the leaves, in the air. A few pennies did roll into the leaves but a ring would not roll, like a coin. At this point Madison needed to get her children ready for the school bus and went back across the street. Gary and I continued to search but this time Gary would walk further down the road, in the northeast direction, scanning the road as he searched, for the ring. If the ring had landed in the northeast lane, there was a good chance the ring was hit and moved further down the road. I continued searching the leaves, going as far back as the rock wall. I kept thinking that the ring may also have landed in the Southwest lane, meaning the ring could be down the road, in that direction. This is why when a ring isn’t found, we have to expand our search area. Gary and I still had not found the ring when Madison came back to the search. She started walking the road on the Southwest lane. After a few minutes, Gary and I heard Madison yell out something about not believing she found it and as we looked down the road she was smiling ear to ear, having found the ring in the complete oppisite direction of where she had thrown it and on the oppisite side of the road we had been searching. As Gary and I rushed over, we could see the ring was damaged, from being hit by a passing vehicle or two or three. Thankfully all the diamonds were still intact and the band itself could be repaired. Madison thanked us and told us that if we hadn’t come back to search and listen to us on the different scenarios of the ring being hit, she never, ever would have found it down the road. She told us that she was done searching until we had come back. Hey, I always say, once we are on scene, it is all hands on deck. “Teamwork is Dreamwork.” Madison was very appreciative of our efforts, in the rain and then returning, to help her. We received smiles and hugs and all will be good, once the ring is repaired.
We will never know exactly where the ring landed but I feel that it was probably near the yellow center lines and was hit multiple times. With the ring 40-50 feet down the road, to her right and the southwest direction, I have a hard time believing the ring moved that far after being hit, just once.

Madison asked that I not use their real names or photos and I agreed. We all make mistakes and I don’t judge people for what they have done in a momentary lapse of judgement. As you all know, from reading my stories, people throwing rings is not an isolated incident. Over the last three years, we have now recovered, I believe 6-7 rings that have been thrown by both men and women. So, please don’t judge and just be happy that Madison has her engagement ring back.
So quite a search to say the least but another ring is back on the finger (as soon as it’s repaired). We love our job. We have the best job in the world and remember, “If it matters to you, it matters to us”💍🙏

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Tungsten Wedding Ring Lost In The Hollis Center, Maine Snow, Found With A Metal Detector

  • from Old Orchard Beach (Maine, United States)
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I received the following text, at 5:20pm, Super Bowl Sunday,

“Hello, I saw your profile on The Ring Finders! My name is Steven, I lost my ring in my yard this evening in the snow and I cannot find it for the life of me. I live in Hollis Center, Maine, and would very much appreciate your service. Thank you for your time and have a great day!”

I immediately called Steven back and asked him what had happened. Steven told me that after finishing up a few things, he had been doing outside, he was about to enter his house through the back door, to his basement. Just before entering, he shook his hands, to remove the melting snow, from his hands. As he shook his hands, standing directly in front of the door, he felt his Tungsten Wedding Ring slipping off his finger. He then heard the ring, hit the hard packed snow, of the walkway, in front of the door. Steven didn’t hear the ring hit anything else, after the ring had hit the hard packed snow but the ring wasn’t on the walkway and Steven had no idea as to which way the ring had bounced. Had it gone off to the side of him, in front of him, in back of him? He just didn’t know and with areas of snow still up to 18” deep, his search of the surrounding area was futile. Trying to find something as small as a wedding ring in up to 18” of snow is virtually impossible, with the naked eye. Steven knew he needed help and that was when he reached out to me. I told Steven that since it was now dark outside I could come and search the next day, when I would have plenty of sunlight, to assist me. Even with a metal detector, I would need plenty of light because it really is difficult to see a ring, in the snow, even after my metal detector locates it. Plus, This was on Steven’s private property where there was no chance of a plow, shovel, snowblower, etc. would move the ring, outside of the area. There was also no chance of someone walking through the area, seeing the ring, on the walkway. Steven would leave the area undisturbed, until I was able to arrive, the next day.
Once I arrived, Steven immediately came out to meet me and I had brought a Tungsten ring with me to set up and calibrate my metal detector. I told Steven that Tungsten is a Non Ferrous, mid conducting metal and usually rings up in the 50’s on the Minelab Manticore, although I have found a few that have rung up in the high 40’s and low 60’s. I threw the ring into the snow and then show Steven how I hoped to find his ring. My coil found my test ring loud and clear, impressing Steven that he could actually hear the target. I then used my pinpointer and showed him how the pinpointer worked. Once I pinpointed the target, I still couldn’t see the ring, in the close to 12” of deep snow. I kept removing snow and finally it appeared. Thankfully there was plenty of sunshine to help me. Steven then took me to the back of the house, down a walkway, and showed me exactly where he had been standing, when his wedding ring came off of his finger. I looked at the area and my first thought was that the ring most likely didn’t land in front of him. The motion of shaking his hands, suggested to me that the ring would have gone behind him, possibly to his left side. He hadn’t heard anything, other that the wedding ring hitting the hard packed snow. Directly in front of him was his house and the ring didn’t hit the house or another hard object. Again, just lots of snow behind him. I started my metal detector up and stood where he had been standing and searched the snow to the immediate left of where he was shaking his hand. Nothing found. I then turned around and started searching behind where he had been and on just on the outside area, of the walkway. The area was very clean of any metal and just 2-3 minutes into the search, I received a strong signal, reading 56-57 on the Minelab Manticore’s VDI Screen. Definitely a non ferrous, mid conducting metal. I was pretty sure this was the wedding ring, as it was nice and loud and repeating. As I brushed the snow away, the ring came into focus and Steven broke out into a smile and giggle, saying “So fast”. I then asked Steven if that was his ring and he confirmed that it was his wedding ring and saying, “That’s wonderful, Thank you so much. I love this ring, more than anything. We just got married a couple of months ago, in October.” WOW, Newlyweds!!!! That explains this a little more. Cold, wet fingers, a new ring, that probably doesn’t fit quite right. What could possibly go wrong? As you all know, I have helped many newlyweds over the years. Experience tells me that most newlyweds have rings that are not the proper size and before you know it, the ring is gone. Thankfully for Steven, this happened right in his own backyard. I mentioned to Steven that he should probably get a clear silicone ring sizer , for his ring. You can get them at Amazon, Walmart or a jeweler, etc.. Usually less than $10.00 and you would have piece of mind that your ring is nice and snug, on your finger.
So another happy, smiling client and another ring, back on the finger. I love my job and it’s the best job, in the world.

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Wallet Lost And Found In Biddeford, Maine Returned To Owner In Saco, Maine

  • from Old Orchard Beach (Maine, United States)
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So this is a very different Recovery and Return for me. No one called me, I didn’t have a metal detector and the owner didn’t even know, he had lost his item, a wallet.

My elderly mother no longer drives and Cheryl and I take her grocery shopping and to her Dr’s appointments. This morning, my mother had a dermatologist appointment, in Biddeford. I picked her up, from her home, in Saco, Maine and drove her to the appointment, in Biddeford, Maine. When we arrived, I was walking around the rear of the vehicle, to open the car door for her, when I saw a wallet, standing up, on its sides. It was just 2 parking spots over from us and as I approached, I could see some cash and some cards. I put the wallet in my inside coat pocket and helped my mother, towards the door, to the Dr’s office. Other cars were coming in and within a minute, before we were even in the door, to the Dr’s, someone parked where the wallet was. One minute later and I would never have seen the wallet.
Once checked in, I opened the wallet, looking for identification and or a phone number. No phone number was found but the drivers license belonged to a John B******. John’s address was in Saco and I knew where the street was. If John did’t walk into the Dr’s office, I would simply drive the wallet to John, after driving my mother home. His address is only 6-7 miles, from my house, in Saco. As I am sitting in the waiting room, I figured I could do a little internet sleuthing and see if I could find a phone number. I did find a landline number for John, at that address but when I called, it had been disconnected. I then tried Facebook and I found John’s Facebook profile, sending him the following message

“Hi John, My name is Dennis Boothby and I have a Facebook Page, The Ring Finders of Maine. I have found a wallet, in Biddeford and I believe it is yours. Could you please call me I am currently still in Biddeford, while my mother is having a procedure done. Thank you, Dennis” I also sent John a photo of my Rack Business Card, with my photo, so he wouldn’t think this was a scam.

I just wanted John to know his wallet had been found and didn’t want him to be out looking for it and worrying. Once my mother was done, at the dermatologist , I drove her home and then Cheryl and I drove out to John’s home. Once at John’s home, John’s wife, Mel answered the door, looked at me and said, “You look awfully familiar.” I then handed Mel my business card and introduced myself. Mel then says “Oh my gosh, Yes, I follow you and your stories.” Mel then told me John wasn’t home and that he had gone to their church, to help with something. I then asked Mel if John had lost his wallet. She told me that she hadn’t heard he had but would call him and ask. I then pulled out John’s wallet and Mel said that it was John’s wallet and then placed the call to John. The conversation went something like this, “Hi Honey, do you have your wallet?” John replied that yes he had taken his wallet with him. Mel then told John that I had found his wallet and that she was actually holding it. I believe John was stunned for a second, most likely checking his pockets, before saying that he didn’t have it and that he had put his wallet, in his hat, while at the Dr’s office. John surmises the wallet must have fallen out of his hat, as he was about to get in his car. John then thanked me, over the phone and was extremely kind, with his words to me. Mel was also very thankful and asked me for a hug. Mel also told me how lucky they were that I had found the wallet because if someone else had found it, the ending may have been entirely different. I would hope that anyone would have done the right thing and returned the wallet. So, a very different type of return but the gratification was the same. Although I wasn’t able to meet John, I am sure he was smiling, as Mel told him his wallet was safe and sound, at home. I know Mel, Cheryl and myself had big smiles on our faces. I love doing this for others and have the best job in the world.😀❤️🙏

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Three Gold Rings, Engagement, Wedding, Lost In The Kennebunk, Maine Snow, Found With A Metal Detector

  • from Old Orchard Beach (Maine, United States)
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Just before 5:00pm, Friday January 30th, I received the following message , from Maggie

“Hey, are you close to Kennebunk, Maine ? We have an individual who lost three rings in the snow after tossing a ball for the dog. What is the cost to have them searched for?”

I replied “Hi So sorry to hear this. I do not charge for my Emergency Metal Detecting Services or my Time. I do however have a Transportation Fee of $25.00 to Kennebunk and that’s it.”

Maggie replied “When can you come? 80 York St”

I replied “Well, it would be dark before I can get to Kennebunk Maine tonight. I need good lighting, to find a ring in the snow. I could be there first thing in the morning, 7:00am, 8:00am or whatever works for you.”

We agreed that I would arrive at their location, bright and early, at 7:00am, as the sun was coming up. Maggie then explained the location was actually The Mooring , a Memory Care Facility and also a Respite Center, just off of Rt 1, in Kennebunk , Maine and not far from the Wells Maine town line. Mary is a caregiver , to the elderly, a very demanding job. Mary is staying at the Respite Center, for a short time and had been playing with a Labrador puppy named Millie. They were playing just outside the door, on the patio. Mary had been throwing a ball, into the snow and Millie had been retrieving the ball, bringing the ball back to Mary and repeating the playful game over and over. At some point during the playful game, Mary noticed her three rings were missing. The rings were a Yellow Gold Engagement Ring, a Yellow Gold Wedding Ring and a White Gold Ring, which was a gift, from her husband. All three rings had Diamonds in them and Mary was just beside herself, that the rings were no longer on her finger. Maggie, a staff member at The Mooring, told me that she would be working from 7:00am to 7:00pm, the next day and she would let me into the secure facility, to search for the rings.
So, Saturday morning , I left my home, in Saco, Maine, in the pre dawn hours, at 6:30am. I arrived right at 7:00am. Maggie was in the vestibule waiting for me and took me inside to meet Mary. Mary repeated the story that had been told to me, by Maggie and we then went outside, to the patio area. Mary showed me where she had been standing, on the patio, while throwing the ball. She also pointed in the direction that she had been throwing the ball. The most likely place the rings would be were just on the other side of a table and chairs, on the patio. I was then told that Mary and others, including staff had searched the area already but hadn’t been able to find any of the three rings. I could see the area had been disturbed quite a bit and was hoping the rings hadn’t been pushed too far down, into the snow or even moved out of the area. After shoveling quite a bit, a few days earlier, for a cell phone, I really wasn’t looking forward to shoveling more snow. But, I had brought my shovel, just in case.
I started the search by moving a few chairs out of the way and pushing the table slightly back, from the deep snow bank. I then started searching the snow, on the patio itself and nothing was found, until a minute into the search, when I received my first target. It was not the ring, but something under the patio. I then received a loud repeating target , near the base of the snowbank. It was definitely a non ferrous target and was ringing up a solid 41, on the VDI screen. As I moved the snow aside, with my hand, I saw the outline of a Yellow Gold Ring. WOW, only a minute or so and the first ring had been found. I passed the ring, to a now emotional Mary, who had some happy tear, in the corner of her eyes. Mary identified the ring, as her wedding ring. Well, that was easy enough and I knew the other rings had to be very close by. Another minute or two and I received another solid low tone non ferrous target, reading 25 on the VDI screen. This target was in the side of the snowbank and as I was brushing the snow away, a ring fell out of the snowbank. I reached down, picked it up and it was Mary’s Yellow Gold Engagement Ring. I passed it to Maggie and I could see Mary, on the patio, with happy tears still flowing. Now just one more ring. The White Gold Ring that was a gift from her husband. Almost immediately, I received a very low tone, non ferrous, reading 15 on the VDI screen. This just had to be the White Gold Ring and it was located just slightly higher, in the snowbank, than the Engagement Ring and less than a foot away. As I removed snow, with my hand, I saw the white band of the ring, sticking out of the snowbank. YES, SUCCESS!!! All three rings were now back on Mary’s finger and she was just so happy to have them back. Mary told me she hadn’t slept at all, last night because her precious rings were gone. Her husband was coming to visit her at 8:00am and she hadn’t called and told him that she had lost the rings. Now she had them back, she had no more worries. It wasn’t even 7:30am and she was just so relieved the rings had been found, prior to her husband’s arrival.
We all went back inside, as it was very cold. When I had arrived, the air temperature was a -3 degrees, without the wind chill. As we were talking and warming up, Maggie told me that she has followed my stories for years and knew who to contact, as soon as Mary told her about her lost rings. As we were all celebrating and smiling I took a photo of Maggie holding the three rings. Mary had asked me not to include any photos of her, in the story, like many other of my clients have in the past. Mary told me she is just not a social media person and I always honor their wish, not to have there photo included. Mary did say I could use the photo of her rings, back on her finger and I could sense a big change in her demeanor. Mary was now smiling, happy and most of all, she couldn’t wait to see her husband, just a half hour from now. What a beautiful moment seeing Mary smiling, awaiting to see her beloved husband, with the precious and sentimental rings, back on her finger, where they belong. I truly have the best job, in the world.🤗❤️🙏

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Engagement Ring Lost In The Newmarket, New Hampshire Snow Found With A Metal Detector

  • from Old Orchard Beach (Maine, United States)
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I received the following message, at 7:30am, Monday January 27th,

« Hello, my name is Marissa B****. I’m located in Newmarket, New Hampshire . Um, I was just calling, um, to see if someone could come out and help me potentially very quickly. Um, I was getting snow off my car and my ring fell off my finger and it’s somewhere in the snow and I’ve just been searching for it and I didn’t know if someone just could come and help me. I live in an apartment building and they’re gonna come plow soon. Um, so I was just wondering if you could help me out, my number is 603-***_****. Thank you very much. »

I immediately called Marissa back and I could tell she was upset by her cracking voice and what sounded like sobbing. Marissa explained that as she was cleaning her vehicle off, her White Gold and Yellow Diamond Engagement Ring had come off and landed in the snow. Marissa and her fiance’ had searched the snow where the ring had fallen but they couldn’t find it. To add even more pressure, the snowplows, that plow the large apartment complex, were just a few buildings away and would be at her building, within two hours. She asked if I could come down there, ASAP, and search. Without hesitation I told Marissa, I would load my equipment up and be there as soon as I could. I also asked her to not have the plows, plow where her car was parked, until I could get there. I knew Newmarket, was just a little SW of Portsmouth New Hampshire and was an hour away, from our home in Saco, Maine, on a good day. This morning the roads were still slick, with black ice and the plows were still out. Hopefully, The Maine Turnpike would be all clear. Marissa agreed to talk with the plow operators, should they arrive, before I do.
Once I was on the road, I called a still emotional Marissa and told her I was already on the Maine Turnpike and gave her an ETA. As soon as I told her that, I could hear a little relief, in her voice . Just knowing someone was on their way to help her, calmed her down. As Cheryl and I made our way down to New Hampshire, the traffic was flowing smoothly, although a little slower, than normal. We arrived at her apartment complex in approximately 1 1/4 hours, about 15 minutes slower, than usual. Once we got out of the vehicle, a cold stiff wind hit us. Temperature at the arrival time was 10 degrees with a feel like wind chill temperature of -2 degrees, brrrrr🥶🥶🥶
We were met by Marissa and she showed me where her car was parked, when her engagement ring came off. It was a very small area and I could see all the disturbed snow, where Marissa and her fiance’ had been searching, without any luck. After throwing a gold test ring, in the snow and showing Marissa how the metal detector works, I got down to business. I performed an east/west grid search. A few targets were heard but I knew they weren’t the engagement ring. I then searched the area again, this time in a north/South grid pattern. Still no engagement ring was found. I had only been searching for 10 minutes and already had searched the very small area, twice, with no luck. I then expanded the search, to just over the piles of snow and within a few minutes, I received the tone I was listening for. A nice low tone, reading 15-16 on the detectors VDI screen. A classic gold target, for a small ring. I grabbed my pinpointer and located the target, in the snow. Once located , I could see the outline of a ring, with some stones but couldn’t make out the color of the stone. I wanted to surprise Marissa so without telling her I had found the ring, I asked her about the color of the stone and she replied “The diamond, yellow”. I then reached down, picked up the ring, from the snow and asked, “Is this it?’ As Marissa walked towards me I could see her eyes welling up and she then thanked me, as she turned away from the camera. Marissa then gave me a hug and I could see the happy tears. What a great feeling it is to be able to help people like Marissa. She was possibly an hour away from having her diamond plowed and lost forever or even damaged, beyond repair. As the weather was brutally cold, Marissa then went back inside her apartment and Cheryl and I quickly jumped back in our vehicle and turned the heat up.
Being retired came into play today because if I was still working, a regular job, , I would not have been able to leave immediately and who knows what might have happened, with the ring. As I always preach, time is of the essence and this was a situation that proves that’s saying. So Cheryl and I went hunting for a HOT Dunkin” coffee for her, for our drive home. Once she got a little coffee in her, Cheryl became a happy camper. I was a happy camper, as soon as I saw Mariss’s engagement ring, in the snow. Another ring, back on the owners finger and I truly have the best job, in the world.❤️🙏

 

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Gold Wedding Ring Lost In The Westbrook, Maine Grass, Found With A Metal Detector

  • from Old Orchard Beach (Maine, United States)
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I hadn’t been home for 10 minutes, after returning from a successful Heirloom Engagement Rig recovery, in Buckfield, Maine, when I saw a text message come in on my phone. Here is the text

“Good morning. I have lost my ring again. Almost the same situation as last time, only a lot smaller search area. It’s just up by where we found it last time. I lost it yesterday. If you have time to stop by again it would be appreciated. There is no real hurry as it’s not going anywhere. I won’t disturb the area. Thanks.

This is Chuck ********* in Westbrook, Maine”

Now, I remember Chuck very well. Back in early May, 2024, we recovered his wedding ring, on his property, in Westbrook, Maine. Chuck owns 20 acres of old farmland, along the Presumpscott River. It is no longer a working farm but Chuck still plants crops in a few areas, on the 20 acres. The previous year, 2023 Chuck had been working the property, tilling the garden, bush hogging another area and doing something, on his tractor. At the end of the day, he noticed his wedding ring was missing. At the time he lost it, he didn’t know about The Ring Finders of Maine and the wedding ring remained lost on his property, until he heard of our service. After close to 9 or 10 months of the ring being lost, Chuck heard about us and contacted us. Being that the wedding ring could literally be anywhere on approximately 5 or 6 of the 20 acres, I brought a backup metal detector with me, so Chuck could help in the search. Long story short, Chuck ended up finding his own ring, in the area where he had been changing blades, on the Bush Hog.

Fast forward almost 20 months later and Chuck has lost his ring, once again, while working on his property. I called Chuck back immediately and told him I could be at his place within an hour and that I would be bringing in Gary Hill to assist on this search, which may end up being acres of property to search. Gary and I arrived shortly thereafter and Chuck he had lost his ring again but this time, he knew who to call. Felt good to hear that, as always. Chuck then explained his activities, from yesterday. Chuck had picked the remaining gourds, from his garden. He then tilled the garden and removed a bunch of the vines and plants, dumping them down in the woods, driving his side by side, down there to do it. Chuck had also rolled up all his hoses, around the house and put the away, for the winter. He had also moved 4 tires, from the back of his aid by side trailer, to a location, not far away. So there were specific areas to search but it is still a large area. My biggest concern was if the ring was lost on the way to or from where he drove down to the woods, to dump the vines and plants. It was a long trail to search. My thinking however was that people don’t usually lose a ring, while riding a tractor or side by side. Not impossible but most people lose their ring, while doing something, which their hands. Picking gourds, rolling up hoses, removing vines and plants, changing Bush Hog blades, etc.. Once Chuck explained his activities and showed Gary and I the area, we came up with a search plan. We would search all the areas where Chuck had been using his hands, before searching the trail and woods. The garden, hose, tire and a few other areas would be searched first. Chuck made a good point in that if the ring had come off in the garden, the ring could have been moved outside the garden, as he drove the tractor through the garden and up another 10-20 feet outside the garden, to turn around. So Gary and I checked the tire area and the entire garden area. I decided to continue searching outside the garden area, working my way towards the area of the side by side, trailer and tractor equipment, while Gary went with Chuck, to the areas, where Chuck had been working, while rolling up the hoses. We had now been searching for approximately an hour and 20 minutes, with no wedding ring being found. As I approached Chuck and Gary, I told them that it looked like we would need to search the trail to the woods and the brush pile, in the woods. I told them that Chuck could drive Gary down the trail, to the woods and Gary could search the brush pile and then if he didn’t find the ring, he could start searching the trail, coming back towards the house. I would start searching the trail, from where the side by side sat and work my way towards the woods. Just as we were about to implement this plan, Chuck and I heard Gary say something like “Hey, look what I just found”. Chuck and I rushed right over and after moving a little grass, there was Chucks gold wedding ring. Chuck, Gary and myself broke out in big smiles, with chuck just saying “Unbelievable”. Fist bumps and handshakes then ensued with the mood now very jovial. Chuck kept thanking us and told us that after he had lost the ring, the first time, he had taken the ring and had it resized. Over the summer, Chuck has lost some weight and the combination of weight loss and cold wet hands, from rolling hoses, were just enough to let the ring slip off his finger.
As Gary and I were getting in the car to leave, Chuck turned and headed towards his house. As he was walking away from my car, Chuck was shaking his head slightly back and forth and we heard him say, “Just Unbelievable”. The next day, I received another text from Chuck and no, he didn’t lose his ring again. This is his text

“I am happy to report I dropped my ring off at the jewelry store to have it resized. Hopefully you won’t have to look for it again.
A big thanks to both of you yesterday.”

Well thank you Chuck, we love doing this for others. It’s the best feeling in the world. So today, Gary and I were able to put two more smiles on our clients faces, some happy tears, hugs, fist bumps and handshakes. More importantly, two more rings are back on the fingers, of our clients. I will say it again, “We have the best job in the world”😀❤️🙏

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Gold Wedding Ring With Diamond Lost In Portland Maine Backyard, Found Without A Metal Detector

  • from Old Orchard Beach (Maine, United States)
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On Thursday September 25th, I had an appointment in Portland,Maine. Just as I was approaching Portland, I received a Phone call from Deborah, about a lost ring. We made plans for Cheryl and I to meet her, as soon as my appointment was over.

Once Cheryl and I arrived at Deborah’s home, Deborah told us that approximately a week earlier she had been sitting on her deck, in the backyard. Deborah had been gardening and her fingers were very sweaty, so she had taken her three rings off and placed them on the table.While sitting at the table, someone bumped into the table and her three rings went spilling, onto the deck. Everyone immediately started looking for the rings and two of Deborah’s rings were found immediately, including her engagement ring. One ring was on the deck and the other ring was found down on the bricks, that surrounded the deck. The missing third ring is Deborah’s wedding ring and she desperately wanted to find it. After searching for a while, the ring was not found. The consensus was that the ring must have somehow slipped through the very narrow boards, of the deck and ended up under the deck. The other theory, as to where the wedding ring had ended up was that it rolled into the leaves and or plants, around the deck and garden. Unfortunately, a visual search did not find the ring. Deborah also had someone come over and remove two of the boards, on the deck, hoping the ring would be found or seen. Once again, no ring was in sight.
Since Cheryl and I we were already on our way to my appointment, in Portland, I didn’t have any of my metal detecting equipment or flashlights. We decided to perform a visual search in the leaves and as best we could, under the deck. We also were not able to visually see the ring. I told Deborah that I could certainly come back with all my equipment and search for her wedding ring. Deborah told us that she and her husband were leaving for Boston, the next day and would be gone, until early the following week. We made plans to communicate on Monday and set up a time for Cheryl and I to come back and search, once again. On Monday, we decided to meet today, Thursday, October 2nd, to search for her wedding ring.
Cheryl and I arrived this morning and were promptly met by Deborah and her husband, Bill. This time however, Cheryl and I had brought my metal detector, pinpointer, flashlights, a small rake and a borescope (very similar to an endoscope, but not for medical use). Our plan was to first search the area under the deck, where the boards were taken off. I would use the small rake and reach underneath the deck and rake everything towards the opening of the removed boards. I would then search search the raked up debris with my metal detector. As I was doing this, Cheryl would check the other area of the deck, by using a flashlight to look between the gaps, of the boards, with a flashlight. If nothing was seen, we would use the Borescope, up and down the deck , between all gaps, in the boards. If we still hadn’t found the ring, we would then start searching, away from the deck, in the leaves and plants.
After raking the debris forward, I was searching under the deck, with my metal detector. Cheryl had the flashlight and was searching the gaps. I found a piece of metal and gave it to Deborah and that’s all I found, under the first removed board. Cheryl was working her way towards the other end of the deck and had moved the table, so she could get a better look, in between the gaps. All of a sudden, Cheryl blurts out, “ I SEE THE RING”. Deborah and I both went over to Cheryl and Cheryl showed us the ring, between the gap, of the boards. The ring had actually gone in a slightly opposite direction, as the other two rings. It was not near either removed board and was on the other side of a supporting beam, for the deck. Deborah said she had something that may work, in getting the ring. It was a wire hook and Cheryl was able to hook the ring but the ring would not straighten out and wouldn’t fit through the gap. As Cheryl lifted the hooked ring up to the gap, I slid my arm under the support beam, as far as I could and I was able to get a hold on the ring. Once I was able to remove the ring, from the hook, I pulled the ring, out from under the deck and handed the wedding ring to Deborah. Deborah immediately stated “You have no idea how happy I am to have my wedding ring back.” By the smile on Deborah’s and Bill’s faces, we had a pretty good idea. Cheryl asked the couple how long they have been married and their reply was “Forever”. Bill and Deborah told Cheryl and I the story of their wedding rings. The wedding rings were custom made by Portland Old Port Jeweler, Designs by CC and Bill’s ring is the same ring, minus the diamond. A his and hers set, so to speak. Now the missing ring is back with its mate and everyone is all smiles. We love being able to help others out in their time of need, like Deborah. Cheryl and I love our jobs 😀❤️🙏

 

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Mailbox Key Lost In The Grass And Leaves, In Well’s Maine, Found With A Metal Detector

  • from Old Orchard Beach (Maine, United States)
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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.😃❤️🙏

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Heirloom 14K Gold Pendant Lost In Sand And Grass Area, In Arundel, Maine, Found With A Metal Detector

  • from Old Orchard Beach (Maine, United States)
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I received a message, from Chelsea, on Saturday evening, asking if I would be able to search for a lost necklace and pendant. I immediately called Chelsea back. Chelsea told me that her 13 year old daughter, Emma, had lost a Gold Necklace and Pendant, at a family birthday party. The birthday party was at Chelsea’s father’s property, in Arundel, Maine. Chelsea told me that there were many adults and children looking for the necklace and pendant but they just could’t find them, even though they knew the approximate area, the necklace and pendant were lost in. Chelsea even told me that the pendant had been found once and then Emma dropped it, only to disappear again, right at her feet, as she was standing there. With it now being just after 5:00pm and the sun setting before 7:00pm now, we made plans for me to arrive at Chelsea’s fathers house, at 8:00am, the next morning. Chelsea the sent me the address of her father’s house and his phone number. If I needed anything, I could contact her father, Leroy. With the gold pendant and necklace being on private property, the gold items would be safe overnight.
So early this Sunday morning, I arrived at Leroy’s property and Leroy was already outside, still searching for the necklace and pendant. When I introduced myself. Leroy told me that the necklace had been found and it was just the pendant, still missing. Leroy took me over to where Emma had been standing, when she dropped the pendant. I looked at the area and mentioned to Leroy that I would think the pendant would have been visible, after being dropped. Leroy agreed and told me the adults were astonished the pendant wasn’t visible in the very short grass and sand. We started talking about the pendant possibly being dropped in another area and Emma thought she was in this area. Leroy was absolutely sure that Emma had been standing, in this area, when she dropped the pendant. Leroy also conveyed that the previous evening, Emma had checked her clothing, thinking the pendant may have somehow landed in her pocket or shoes. No pendant was found. At this point, Emma’s father, Nate arrived and he also went through the entire turn of events and his and Leroy’s story was exactly the same. The pendant had to be in this area. I was then told that the previous evening, a rake was used, in searching for the pendant. Could the pendant have been moved, out of the area, by the rake? Could the pendant have covered up with the sand/loose gravel, by the rake? We shall find out. I told Nate and Leroy that I would grid search the area from near the vegetation, along the pond, to the driveway and repeat that process, until the area had been 100% searched. If I didn’t find it, in the area, I would start expanding the area of search.
The grid search line from the vegetation to the driveway, was maybe 20’. It wouldn’t take me long to cover the entire area. As I made my way towards the driveway, I received a few non ferrous targets that I knew wouldn’t be the pendant but I checked them with my pinpointer anyways, for due diligence sake and being thorough. All targets were in the ground and were not the pendant. As I turned and headed back towards the pond, same thing was happening. A few targets being checked out but the pendant was still missing. I then headed back towards the driveway and a few steps in, I heard the tone I had been hoping for. A loud, repeatable low tone, showing up a very solid 18, on the VDI Screen. This just had to be the pendant but when I looked down at the patchy grass and sand/loose gravel, there was nothing there. As the three of us were there looking at the ground, I grabbed my pinpointer and started searching the sand/loose gravel area and all of a sudden, I see a tiny piece of gold and then I saw the outline of a pendant. Emma’s pendant had been found. Leroy, Nate and myself marveled at how the gold pendant blended in with the sand/loose gravel and surrounding area. We also talked about how the pendant ended up, beneath the sand/loose gravel. Could the foot traffic in the area, while searching have covered it up? Could the raking have covered it up? It was very close to where Emma thought she had dropped the pendant but was just hiding, under the sand/loose soil.
Nate and Leroy then told me the story of the gold necklace and pendant. Chelsea had actually bought them, when she was around 16 years old, with her own hard earned money. As Emma always loved the necklace, Chelsea passed it down to Emma. Thankfully the necklace and pendant will now be back together, once the necklace is repaired. UnfortunatelY, I was not able to meet either Chelsea or Emma but Nate is going to make sure Emma gets her gold pendant back. As I was leaving, I saw the smiles on Leroy and Nate’s faces and although I could’t see my smile, as I walked to my vehicle, I also was wearing a large smile. Love my job!!! It’s the best job in the world.
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5 Lost Property Markers Found In Cumberland Center, Maine, Found With A Metal Detector

  • from Old Orchard Beach (Maine, United States)
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I received a call from Jim, concerning some property markers, that he couldn’t locate. Jim related to me that there should be 11 different property markers, on his property, in Cumberland Center, Maine. Jim knew where five of the property markers were. He only really needed to locate three of them, to an adjoining property and he had a good idea, as to where the three markers would be, by measuring from the known property pins. He asked if I would be able to help him locate just three of the missing pins.

I told Jim I would be happy to help him and that I would bring a 300’ tape measure, to measure the distances from one property pin, to the area that missing property pin should be in. I also told Jim that even though it is illegal to remove these property markers, in the State of Maine, many people have removed them. I told him that even at my home, I was only able to locate 2 of the six property markers. I was told by my neighbor, 30+ years ago the front 2 property pins had been removed, by a previous owner, because the previous owner didn’t like them, because of the lawn mowing. I have also searched on other properties and have heard similar stories of property markers being remove for lawn mowing purposes or ascetics , the property owners just don’t like looking at them. It’s always a hit or miss with property markers.
I arrived at Jim’s home and he was totally prepared, with the map of the property, with dimensions and Jim had already measured out the areas and placed a wooden stake, in the ground. The wood stake should be very close to where the property pins should be. Jim took me to the area of where the first property pin he needed to find and there was a wooden stake. Jim told me that it may be under a Rhododendron plant. I started metal detecting on the inside of the Rhododendron plant and I couldn’t locate the property pin, but did find the usual old rusty iron nails. I then went to the other side of the plant and almost immediately received a nice loud ferrous target. I wiped away the leaves and there it was, the property pin. It was barely showing but I could see the yellow cap and a bit of the metal pin. I dug out around it and Jim was delighted that we had found property pin #1. One down, two to go. The next property pin was going to be a straight line, from the pin I had just found. Jim and I measured the distance out to the next pin. I started searching with my metal detector again and there were all kinds of targets but no property pin, in the area. Lots and lots of yard trash and yes, even more nails. Jim was baffled and went to get the map. He said it should be there but it wasn’t. Jim wanted to move on to property pin #3 and this pin should line up, with the pin we couldn’t find. Once again, Jim had measured out property pin #3, from a know property pin and Jim took me up to the known pin and showed me, the location. We then went to the area of property pin #3 and Jim had a wooden stake there, signaling the area, the property pin should be in. Jim and I then walked to the area of property pin #2, that we didn’t find. My metal detector was still there and Jim then proceeded to his house, to get a long handled shovel. I grabbed my metal detector and went to try and find property pin #3. After a few minutes of some more rusty nails, I received a loud high pitched ferrous target. I took my spade and dug the target out and there it was, a metal property marker. This one was broken and was missing the yellow cap but there it was. When Jim returned with the shovel, I showed him what I had found and again, he was delighted, that property pin #3, had been found. Now we just needed to find property pin #2. This time, we would measure from pin #3 and see if the area would be the same, as from measuring from pin #1. Once thee measurement was taken, the area was off by 5 to 6 feet. How could that be? Why was the measurement 5-6 feet closer to pin #3, than the measurement, from pin #1? As Jim scanned the map, he noticed that he had measured, to a fence post, being shown on the map and not the actual property marker. Once this was corrected, the new location was actually in some small trees and bushes. I pushed some branches and bushes away and took a look inside. WOW!! I could see a large iron pipe sticking up through the vegetation. Now we just had to take measurements from both pin #1 and pin #3, to verify this iron pipe is the actual property marker. Both measurements were within an inch of where they were suppose to be. Now all three property markers had been found and Jim was just so happy. Jim was now planning on digging the pins out just a little more, especially pin #3, since it had broken off, in the ground. Jim was then going to spray paint them orange, for better visibility. As we were walking back ti to house and my vehicle, Jim asked if I would mind finding three more property markers. He told me the three I had already found were the important ones, that he needed to know the location of but he would like to just know where the others were. I told Jim absolutely, “I’m already here, lets do it”
So now we needed to find pins #4, #5 and #6. Pin #4 would be directly across from Jim’s house and on the other side of the driveway. The other two pins were at the front of the property, along the road. Starting with pin #4, I started searching near the wooden post, that Jim had already put in the area. Within a minute or so, I received a nice loud target and when I looked down, I could see just a little bit of a familiar looking yellow cap, in the grass. It was pin #4. That was easy. Jim and I then measured down to the location of where pin #5 should be and once again, Jim had already placed the wooden post, in the area. Being near the road, it is my experience that there is usually a lot of trash and my experience was proved correct. Just a lot of different targets that I had to go through. After 6-7 minutes of searching, I received the target I was looking for. I could not see this one and when I dug it, I saw pin #5. It was missing a yellow cap but did have red colored piece of ribbon, tied around it. Wow, to easy when there are no bushes or trees. Pin #6 would be directly down the street, just 80’ from pin #5. We measured out the 80 ‘ and started searching the grassy lawn area. Again, lots of trash and nails but no property marker. I continued to search in a 10” radius, from where the pin should be but it just isn’t there. As Jim and I were still searching, Jim’s neighbor, Casey, came home. Casey came over and we told him we couldn’t find the property marker. Casey told us he knew where his left front marker was and we measured the 164’, from Casey’s property to where the pin #6 should be and we were exactly where it should be. Measured from bot Jim’s hand Casey’s known markers came out the exact spot. Unfortunately , it just wasn’t there. Jim and Casey were ok with that and actually put a wooden in the mutually agreed spot, just to mark the spot. Neither of them have anything planned for the area, but they now know where pin #6 should be.
So a morning spent searching for, ultimately, six different property markers, turned out quite successful. Jim was very pleased that the three pins he wanted to find, were found and two of the other three pins found, were a bonus. Jim thanked me, posed a a photo at pin #4 and thanked me again for helping him. His smile said it all and that always puts a smile on my face. I have the best job in the world.😃❤️🙏

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