Old Orchard Beach Maine Metal Detector Rental Tag | The Ring Finders

Missing Sprinkler Head Lost And Found In Wells, Maine, With A Metal Detector

  • from Old Orchard Beach (Maine, United States)

Not all recoveries are precious and sentimental jewelry. A surprise recovery of a sprinkler head that I wasn’t even aware was missing.

On Tuesday November 5th, I received a call from Linda. The previous Tuesday, Linda was doing yard work, specifically , using a leaf blower to blow the leaves, into a pile, towards the back of their property, in Wells, Maine. As she was taking the leaf blower off, of her back, she felt it hit her ear and snag something. She immediately thought of her Diamond Stud Earring and slowly walked into the house, to check the situation out. When she got into the house she heard something land on the floor and she then saw the backing, to the Diamond Earring. Linda then started checking her clothing and couldn’t find the earring, on any of her clothing. Linda searched the floor and surrounding area, where the backing had been found. Nothing. She also checked the leaf blower harness, still no luck. Linda continued searching, day and night, using a flashlight, outside, in the dark to see if she could catch a glimmer of the light, hitting the diamond. Nothing found. She then had a friend come over and search with his metal detector. Still nothing. This is when Linda called me. We agreed I would come to her home and search on Thursday, November 7th.
When I arrived! I was promptly met by Linda. She took me to the area, she thought the earring, may be at, in her backyard. Linda still had the other Diamond stud earring and I set the Minelab Manticore Metal Detector up, with the other earring. I was able to set the machine up and was receiving nice loud low tones, every single time. As I gridded the area, Linda and I would check out every non-ferrous target , in the low conductor range. After a couple hours and checking dozens of targets, I received a nice low tone, in the Gold Range. This one sounded different and seemed like a fairly big item. As we were investigating the target, we didn’t see anything, on top of the ground. All of a sudden, Linda says, the target may be a long lost sprinkler head, they had been searching for. As we dug deeper, we discovered the missing sprinkler head. Linda told me the sprinkler head had gone missing and her flowers weren’t getting the water they needed. Linda and her husband had been looking for it and they were going to have the Irrigation service person, search for it in the spring. Well, now he doesn’t have to, saving Linda and her husband a service call.
So, the earring has not been found and I am going back next week and search the remaining lawn, as I only covered approximately 40% of the lawn, today. Linda will continue to search inside the house and will be using a small swifter on the floors, in the area the backing came off. It is so tough because the earring may have been lost at any point while she was in the backyard. The earring may have been blown out of the area, Linda thought it should be in and into a totally different area. At least one more search will be needed, to cover the entire backyard. I will definitely update you all, if the earring is found.
As you see, it’s not always jewelry that is found. In the past, I have found Property Markers and Water Shut Off Valves, for clients. Now I can add a Sprinkler Head to the list.

18K Gold Necklace and Heart Pendant with A Jade Buddha, Lost In The Old Orchard Beach, Maine Ocean 18 Years Ago, Found With A Metal Detector And Returned

  • from Old Orchard Beach (Maine, United States)

This story starts 18+ years ago, in 2006. In late August of 2006, I was taking advantage of the negative low tide, by Metal Detecting the extremely early low tide, in Old Orchard Beach, Maine, by arriving at the beach at 3:00am. Sunrise wasn’t for a few hours but I need to take advantage of the negative low tide, on the pitch black beach. I had parked next to The Brunswick Bar – The Largest Patio On The Beach and entered the beach, at the Life Guard Station, at that location. Once arriving down on the wet sand, I took a left and headed towards the OOB Pier. Low tide was also in a few hours and I was searching the mid beach area as I headed north, towards the pier. It was not long at all, when I received my first target, of the morning. As I dug my target, out of the sand, I knew immediately that I I found a necklace, with some kind of pendant on it. Because it was so dark out, I didn’t know if the necklace was junk, silver or gold. I placed it in my finds pouch and continued metal detecting. I searched until it was light enough out, to examine the necklace. To my surprise, the necklace was 18K Yellow Gold, with a genuine Jade Buddha Pendant. Unbelievable. The necklace was extremely heavy and I then knew that this was a very expensive necklace and I was eager to find the owner.

Once I arrived home, I started placing ads, on Craigslist, to try and find the owner. This was pre-Facebook, for me, as it was 2006. After receiving no leads, to the owner, of the necklace, I placed it in my safe, hoping someone would answer the Craigslist ads and I would be able to return it. No such luck and as time passed, I forgot about the necklace and within a few years, the safe itself, would not open. The digital keypad, of the safe had short circuited and the contents of the safe were stuck inside. I had even contacted a locksmith, to get the safe open but they wanted $300.00, to drill it open. I didn’t need anything, in the safe, at the moment and decided the contents could stay there, safe and sound. Over the years, I would think about the contents, now and then but didn’t think it was worth the money, to have the safe drilled out. Besides the Gold & Jade Buddha Necklace, other contents in the safe were my coin collection, and some other metal detecting finds, but nothing of the value, of the necklace. Before I knew it, 18+ years had passed, since I put the Necklace in the safe, very very rarely, thinking of the contents.
Fast forward to May 30th of this year, 2024. I had a story on Facebook about a ring recovery and return. Among all the congratulatory comments, there was a comment from someone that I did not recognize. His name is Han Tu and his comment said the following

“Have u ever found a gold necklace with a Buddha pendant and heart pendant on it? I lost it in the water like 18 years ago I was devastated and wonder if anyone ever found it”
I replied to his comment, “Han Tu, Sorry, I have not.❤️🙏”

Now, I knew I had found a Gold Necklace with a Buddha Pendant, but after 18 years, I did not remember the necklace having a Heart Pendant. I asked Cheryl if she remembered the necklace, having a heart pendant and she did not remember it either. I knew that if this was his necklace, I needed to return it but the safe was still broken and hadn’t been open since approximately 2010, 14 years earlier. I immediately started to search the internet to see how I could get the safe open, without the cost of have it drilled out. After a few days, I decided to try a possible fix and ordered a part that holds the batteries, as the battery holder was shot and the batteries had leaked all over the inside of the keypad. Had nothing to lose and ordered the part, took the keypad apart, cleaned it all up and waited for the replacement battery holder to arrive. After a few weeks, it arrived and we wired it up to the keypad and placed new batteries in it. Now for the real test. I punched in the keypad code, grabbed the lever and pulled the handle down. IT OPENED. I COULDN’T BELIEVE IT. The safe was open for the 1st time in approximately 14-15 years. I dug through the contents and found the Gold Necklace. To Cheryl’s and my surprise, A Gold Necklace, Jade Buddha AND A GOLD HEART PENDANT, exactly as Han Tu had described. My mind was spinning but a large smile, broke out across our faces. I told Cheryl that I needed to get this Necklace to Han Tu and I wanted to surprise him.
Since I knew nothing about him, I once again started searching the internet for any information. Phone number, address, anything that would allow me to get his necklace, back to him. I couldn’t find anything about him, other than this one address, in WORCESTER MASSACHUSETTS. I wasn’t even sure if this was the address for the same Han Tu, but it was the only lead I had.
As the extremely busy summer progressed and I was posting about all my recoveries and returns, I continued searching for any new information on Han Tu. Absolutely nothing. This was similar to a 1948 Class Ring that I had returned, earlier in the year. I just kept researching until, I came across reliable information, through a third party. This time however, I did not have a third party, to help me. With no other information being found, I told Cheryl that we just needed to make the 2 hour drive and knock on the door, of the address I had found. I knew what Han Tu looked like, from his Facebook Page, that he had commented from. If I knock on the door and that person answered, our prayers would be answered. If it was someone other than Han Tu, from the Facebook Page, we would leave and think about what we would do next.
So, on November 2, 2024, Cheryl and I left our home, in Saco, Maine, at 6:00am and made the 2 hour drive, to Worcester Massachusetts – The Beauty of it all. Once we arrived, we got out of the vehicle, and approached the front door. Cheryl was ready to video the entire meeting. We didn’t see any signs of anyone up but two vehicles were in the driveway. I rang the doorbell, no answer. I knocked on the door, no answer. I did both of them again and still no answer. It was not 8:30am yet and Cheryl suggested we take a drive because everyone may be sleeping in, on the weekend. As everyone knows, I ALWAYS listen to Cheryl 😉. So Cheryl and I drove away and took a drive around the countryside and returned appropriately 40 minutes later, at 9:00am. We again approached the front door and this time, I could hear voices inside, including that of a young child. I rang the bell and almost immediately, I saw a young boy looking out the window at me. I waved to him and he waved back. I then heard the door being unlocked and I saw a familiar face looking out at me, as Han Tu looked out the crack of the door. I told Han who I was and handed him my business cards. He told me he needed to get dressed and would be out, in a moment. Less than two minutes later, Han was outside and I knew he would be getting his Necklace back. We had the right house and person.
I can see Han trying to comprehend what is going on. I mean, he really has no idea what is going on. I explained that he had commented on one of my Facebook posts, in late spring and I was wondering if he could give me a description of his necklace. As he was looking at my business cards, back at me, back at the business cards, he was describing his lost necklace, from 18 years earlier. As he was still describing it, he looked back at the cards, one last time and I held the necklace up, so when he looked back at me, he would see the necklace and hopefully he would be completely taken by surprise. Han looked up at me and the necklace and I could see in his eyes and the look on his face that he was totally not expecting this, as he said,

“No way, are you kidding me?” He then looks absolutely stunned and lost in thought, as he says “That’s crazy”. Han Tu then puts his hand over his eyes and all the emotions started coming out of the flood gate. He was so taken aback and his emotions were just so strong and it was a beautiful moment, to experience. I was getting goosebumps and teary eyed. I could tell how much this necklace meant to this man. This wasn’t just a necklace, this was a very important part of his young life. Among other things Han Tu told Cheryl and I, this necklace was a High School Graduation gift, from his parents. The necklace was very expensive and was not an easy decision for the parents to make but they were so proud of him and to commemorate his achievement, they decided to spend the money on the son they loved and were proud of. Han Tu also told us that the heart represented a very, very dear friend, who had passed away, in a car accident, a few years earlier. The heart, that Han Tu placed on the necklace would always keep his dear friend, close to him and the friend would never be forgotten. If this doesn’t get you teary eyed, you have no emotions. All I could do was console him and give him a hug. I think I may have needed the hug, more than him. It was so comforting and natural as we hugged each other.
Han also told us that he only had the necklace, a few months, after graduation before he lost it. A traditional family getaway to Old Orchard Beach, Maine, in July or August of 2006 went very wrong, when Han Tu was in chest deep water, right next to the OOB Pier, when the large waves finally got him. One of the large waves hit him and sent him in every direction possible, including head over heels. It was at that moment the necklace made its way, over his head, sinking into the deep water, waves and sand. Even though he and his family searched for hours, with borrowed goggles, it was all for naught. Han Tu, was absolutely devastated, as he conveyed to us.
Because this happened 18+ years ago, Han Tu and I think the necklace had been lost for approximately 4-6 weeks, before I found it. The necklace was lost right next to the OOB Pier, yet I found it approximately 150-200 feet south of where he lost it. I vividly recall finding it approximately half way between the Pier and The Brunswick, directly in front of Palace Playland Amusement Park. This just shows how far items can travel due to strong waves, currents and rip tides. Once something is lost in the ocean, you just never know if you will ever see the lost item again. I told Han Tu to do me a favor and not to wear it in the water ever again. He promised me and told me that he may not even wear it again and take a chance of losing it, again. He now wears a White Gold Necklace with a Jade Buddha, another gift from his parents, approximately 10 years ago, for another achievement that Han Tu accomplished. This White Gold Necklace, now matches all the necklaces worn in the family, including his parents. Just talking to Han Tu, Cheryl and I could see, feel, sense, the love and pride he has for his entire family. As a matter of fact, when Han Tu told us he probably wouldn’t wear the returned necklace again, he immediately told us he would most likely pass it down, to his young son. A very strong family man indeed. Hours later, I am still a little emotional, reliving the experience, as I write this. I am so grateful to be able to help people like Han Tu, get a part of their history back, when he never thought he would ever see the necklace again. We will make plans to meet up with Han and his family, next summer, when they return for their annual OOB vacation. I will show Han Tu and his family, exactly where I found the necklace and hopefully get a picture together, with everyone, with the OOB Pier, in the background, where he lost it. Full circle.

I have received a few text messages from Han Tu, since I left him this morning. This is one of the very kind messages, he has sent me. Thank you, Han Tu❤️🙏

“Thank you so much. It’s a true blessing there’s no amount of word I can say to express my gratitude. Looking forward to seeing ur post and me crying like a big baby. God bless you and your family. You are doing gods work and may he continue to watch over and take care of you

18K Gold Cartier Ring Lost In The Ocean, In Scarborough Maine, Found With A Metal Detector

  • from Old Orchard Beach (Maine, United States)

Saturday, June 21st, 2024, I had been searching for a lost Silver Chain and Religious Cross, in the Camp Ellis beach area, of Saco, Maine. I had arrived there at 4:45am, to take advantage of the low tide. At approximately 7:30am, I was still searching, when I felt my phone vibrate, signaling a text message had come in. The message said

“Hi there, I’m interested in your ring finding service. I lost a ring yesterday at Scarborough Beach State Park”.

I immediately called the number back and found myself talking to Julie. Julie explained that she and her husband, Drew, had gone to Scarborough Beach State Park, in Scarborough, Maine, to beat the heat. The previous days temperature, was in the mid 90’s and humid. Julie explained that she was wearing her 18K Cartier Ring, when they arrived and noticed it was missing, while swimming, in the ocean, just before they left at 1:30pm. I told Julie that I would be willing to search for her Cartier Ring, but it would need to be when the tide was near the same, as it was, when she noticed it missing. I told Julie, I would call her, when I arrived home, from the chain and cross search. I needed to figure out the best time to conduct my search, with the tides, working in my favor.

When I arrived home, I called Julie again and the tides would work well, if I started my search, between 1:30pm and 2:00pm. Julie agreed to meet me at Scarborough Beach State Park, at 1:30pm and show me the location where she and Drew, had spent the day, staying cool, by swimming, in the ocean. Julie and Drew, showed me where they had placed their towels, on the beach. They also told me that they spent a lot of time, in the ocean, swimming, way out and well over their heads. They told me that they did not leave the area, of their towels, other than to go swimming. The Cartier Ring, had to be out there, somewhere under the water and I will search the exposed wet sand, as the ocean receded, until, hopefully, the ring was no longer, under the ocean water.

With the high tide, now 2 hours behind us, this was approximately the same tide timeline, that Julie noticed her ring, was missing. The search would need to be horizontal, to the water and I would start at the bottom of the slope, leading to the wet sand, from where their towels were. What we didn’t know was at what point did Julie’s ring, slip off of her finger? Was it when the tide, was closer to the shore? Did it slip off her finger, when the tide was further out? Don’t know and that is why I need to methodically search the entire area. She and Drew, told me that they had swum way out, into the ocean, a few different times, during their day at the beach. Could it have been lost out to far, for me to recover? If the wet sand wasn’t going to be exposed, by the low tide, there was no way, that I could go 30, 40 or even 50 feet, out into the ocean and search for her ring. The water was just going to be to deep.

As I searched, I wasn’t finding many targets. A few pieces of aluminum, bottle caps and one penny. I was finding more ferrous targets, than non ferrous items, but I wasn’t going to dig the ferrous items. Time was to precious and I needed to search the entire low tide area. I then received a signal that got my heart to jump. A nice low tone and VDI reading, of 12-23. Definitely within the gold range. After digging the hole, I saw a gold ring, with the infinity symbol. I motioned to Julie and her husband, to come down, from where they were watching me from. When they arrived, I asked Julie to describe her ring, exactly. She told me it was a band, with small circles, all around the outside of the band. This was not her ring and Julie went back up to the towel area, to wait for me to find her ring. Over the next hour or so, nothing of any substance, was found. Julie and Drew, came down to see me and tell me that they had to leave and get back home, to Auburn, Maine. Auburn is approximately a 45 minute drive, North of Scarborough. Julie looked very sad and disappointed. She asked if I could contact her, if I find her ring. Of course I will.

After they left, I picked up, right where I left off and there was approximately 2 hours to go, before low tide. I need to find this ring, but time and real estate, was running out. As I worked my way further and further away from the shore, I still wasn’t getting many signals, as I caught up to the receding waters. Just before 4:30pm and nearly 3 hours, into the search, I heard the unmistakable low tone, that I had been hoping to hear. The VDI was reading 12-20, a fantastic reading and one that got me smiling. I took a scoop of sand threw it up onto the wet sand, away from the water. I still couldn’t see the target so I used my pinpointer to search the pile of wet sand. I located the target and when I brushed the sand away, I could see a beautiful gold ring. As soon as I saw the circles, on the side of the band, I knew I had found Julie’s Cartier Ring. A look inside the ring showed the Cartier name and Au 750. Definitely 18K and definitely Julie’s ring. I was ecstatic and immediately took a few photos and sent a text, to Julie, telling her, “Got It”, along with a photo of the ring. Such a great feeling, when I am able to send a text like that. When I didn’t hear back, from Julie, after a few minutes, I called her and she told me her phone was almost dead and hadn’t received the message yet. She called me back on her Drew’s phone and she was extremely excited and happy to hear the news, that her beautiful Cartier Ring would soon be back on her finger. I then sent some photos, to Drew’s phone. I immediately received a response and she said
“Oh my goodness. That’s it. Thank you!!!”

She also sent me another text a little while later saying

“I still can’t believe it!!! I’ve been telling everyone. I will call you at 7!☺️☺️☺️”

She did call me and we made a plan to meet up, in the morning, to return her ring.

We met up at the Saco Hannaford and when I saw Julie, it was a smile from ear to ear and I don’t think her feet were touching the ground. She was extremely happy to have her ring back, after approximately, 27 hours, under the water and sand. Julie and Drew couldn’t have been any happier and I just love knowing that the 18K Cartier Ring was now back, with the rightful owner. What a great feeling, knowing I could help her, in her time of need. Since Julie prefers not to have her photo, on social media, I have respected her wishes and included only a photo of me.

14K Gold Pendants, Gifted By Great Grandmother Lost In Tall Grass, in Westbrook, Maine, Found With A Metal Detector

  • from Old Orchard Beach (Maine, United States)

Recovery and Return’s #38 & 39

On Friday Night, June 14th, I received a text at approximately 7:40pm. It said

“My daughter was playing outside and lost her gold cross and a small gold basketball off her necklace I’m located in Westbrook, Maine what do you charge thanks Jon”

I replied,

“Hi Jon, sorry to hear this.

“I do not charge for my time or for my service. I do require a $25.00 Transportation Fee, to cover my gas, tolls, wear and tear, etc.

Where did she lose it? Your property? Private property? Public property?”

Jon then proceeded to tell me

“Yes my property we have a picture of her with it on 5 mins before she went inside changed her shirt and the pendants are gone. She said-early in the day chain got caught on her bike and didn’t think anything of it. The chain and cross were given to her when her great grandmother died.”

With it now being almost 8:00pm and raining slightly, I told Jon I could be there 1st thing in the morning, after charging my detectors, overnight. Jon and I agreed to meet in the morning and start searching.

I arrived at Jon’s home, in Westbrook, Maine at 7:15am and was promptly met by Jon and his daughter, Jaelyn. Jaelyn told me that she was next to the house, next door and ran home and went in the front door. A total distance of approximately 75+- feet. Jon and Jaelyn had performed a visual search but it was useless. The grass was fairly tall and something as small as the pendants would easily fall out of sight, into the tall grass. I asked Jaelyn where the picture of her, with the pendants, still on the necklace was taken. Jaelyn took me to the spot and told me that as soon as the picture was taken, she ran home. I decided to start the search there and asked Jaelyn to walk the same path, as she had run the previous night and I would follow her, very slowly, with my Minelab CTX-3030, with a very small 6 inch sniper coil.
About 10 minutes into the search, I received a very, very, very, low sounding chirping noise. I looked into the deep grass, but couldn’t see anything. I removed my handheld pinpointer and stuck it into the deep grass and received a nice loud signal. Pushing the grass aside, I saw the top of the 14K Gold Cross, Thank God! Jon and Jaelyn couldn’t believe it and Jon said that the cross, is the more important pendant. The cross had been given to her, after her Great Grandmother had passed away.

Now, to find the very small 14K Gold Basketball Pendant. I finished searching the path that Jaelyn had taken and no basketball pendant. We all talked about the possibility of the pendant, flying off her, as she ran and into the hedges, in the front of the house. I was also thinking the basketball pendant was smaller than the cross and decided to search the path again. This time, I would search with only the hand held pinpointer, by bending over for the length of the search. Still no basketball pendant. Did it bounce, into the hedges? Out towards the street? Don’t know, so I decided to grid search the entire lawn. I started at the lawn, near the front door she had gone in. No luck. I then moved to the lawn in front of the house and started searching there. As I came up to the light post, I received a nice strong signal, about 2-4 inches, from the light post. Could I be picking up some metal associated, with the post and wires below? I looked closely, into the grass but still didn’t see anything. As I put my pinpointer, into the grass, it received a signal and as I moved the grass with the pinpointer, I could barely make out something, gold in color. As I reached down and grabbed the item, I could see a very small Gold Basketball. I finally found it, after just under 2 hours of searching. The pendant was just a few feet, off of the path that Jaelyn had run , the previous night.

I then texted Jon and told him I had found the pendant. A few minutes later, Jon and Jaelyn came outside and I asked them if they could see the pendant, in the grass. They could not see it and I passed my coil over the pendant and showed them where it was. The pendant would never have been found, with a visual search.

Jaelyn and Jon told me they didn’t think I would find either pendant , but now they were both smiling ear to ear. Jon had told me that the previous night, Jaelyn was inconsolable and just crying and crying, because she had lost her Great Grandmother’s Gold Cross. Jaelyn is now feeling much better, knowing she has both pendants again. I am so grateful that I am able to reunite people with their extremely sentimental items.

Key Fob Lost In Standish, Maine Found Visually, While Searching With A Metal Detector

  • from Old Orchard Beach (Maine, United States)

On Saturday morning , May 25th, 2024, I received the following voicemail
“Yeah, my name is Stephanie. I called you yesterday but I’m not sure that I actually got the right number because the number that comes up on my phone is a six. Six number. I’ve lost a Key fob in Standish, probably about a half an hour from Saco. I know it’s a holiday weekend, so maybe this isn’t possible but if you could Let me know if it’s a possibility for us to get together I’d appreciate it you can text me, at your convenience. My number is 2 0 7- ***-**** .
Thanks bye-bye…”

I was driving back from Portland, but immediately called Stephanie back. I told Stephanie that I did not receive her voicemail, from the previous day, but that I would certainly be able to help her. It was now approximately 9:30am and I told Stephanie I would be there at approximately 11:00am, just needing to get to my home, in Saco, Maine and pick up my Metal Detecting equipment and drive to Standish, a suburb of Portland, Maine and Windham, Maine.
I arrived at the location, where the Key Fob had been lost, at 11:20am. Stephanie and her husband Tom, arrived 5 minutes later. Stephanie explained that 4 days earlier she had driven to this location and parked next to the walking and ATV trail. Shen then proceeded to walk down the road, stopping at certain locations, on both sides, of the road, to view and smell the many flowers. When she finished her walk, she noticed the Key Fob was no longer, in her pocket. She retraced her steps, on both sides of the road, including down in the ditch, along rock walls, in areas she had traversed, to see the flowers. She could not find the key fob. She then walked 3 miles home and then back to the car, with the spare key fob. Over the next few days, Stephanie returned and searched the area again, this time, getting down into the ditch and searching through the many leaves and brush. Still not successful, Stephanie was telling a friend what had happened and the friend told her to contact me, The Ring Finders of Maine.

Stephanie and Tom took me a few steps up the road, to where Stephanie thought the key fob, may be. It was down, in the ditch and covered with leaves and twigs. As I was searching, I was finding the usual road side trash, of bottle caps, vape pens and cans, but no key fob. As I came out of the ditch, I was walking at the top of the ditch and searching along the path, Stephanie had walked, days earlier. Stephanie was visually searching near me and her husband, Tom was visually searching, about 75 feet ahead of us. I was still only finding road side trash, when we heard Tom yell out to Stephanie to come meet him, up ahead. I continued my search and saw Stephanie and Tom, walking back to me. When they reached me, they showed me the key fob. TOM HAD FOUND THE KEY FOB, while visually searching, about 75 feet, up the road. Nothing like dual optical scanners (Eyes 👀) to successfully find the key fob. Tom had left the road side and saw them, laying next to a rock wall, approximately 10-15 feet from the road. Outstanding job Tom and he was then rewarded with a big kiss.
Another team effort, in locating Stephanie’s key fob. It may not have been found by a Metal Detector but Stephanie doesn’t care. She has it back and didn’t need to replace her Key Fob , at a cost of $325.00. We all left, very happy. And great day and story for my “Book of Smiles”

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

  • from Old Orchard Beach (Maine, United States)

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

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

  • from Old Orchard Beach (Maine, United States)

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

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

  • from Old Orchard Beach (Maine, United States)

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

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

Dennis L. Boothby

Cell Phone – 207-423-3027