#Wells Maine Metal Detector Rental And Service Tag | The Ring Finders

Platinum Wedding Ring Lost In The Sand At Drake’s Island Beach, Well’s, Maine, Found With A Metal Detector

  • from Old Orchard Beach (Maine, United States)
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I received the following voicemail, on Friday evening at 7:15pm.
“Hello, my name is Kaelly ****. I found your page on Facebook. We have a lost wedding ring at Drake’s Island Beach in Wells Maine. So just seeing if you have any availability to come out and help us find it with a metal detector. My phone number is 443-***-****. Thank you.”

I immediately called Kaelly back. She and her husband Mark were still at the beach searching for the ring. Unfortunately, once a ring gets under the sand , they are extremely difficult to find. Kaelly explains that they had a very good idea where the ring was and they had even marked the area. That is exactly the correct move I was so happy to hear this. Keely then passed the phone to Mark and he told me the same thing about the area the ring was lost in. He was very sure of the area because as he, Kaelly and their two young children, walked onto Drakes Island Beach, from the municipal parking lot, they had just exited the blue mat, that is on the access path. As each parent was holding a child, as they walked onto the beach, Mark moved his child from one arm, to the other. When he repositioned his child, he felt his ring snag on something and felt it coming off. He looked at his hand and sure enough, his platinum wedding ring was no longer on his finger. Mark and his family were only 40-50 feet off of the access path and they immediately stopped. Since Mark only felt the ring coming off his finger, he didn’t see where the ring had fallen to. He knew it couldn’t be far but the sand had swallowed it whole and after a family search, Kaelly gave me a call. I told Mark I would leave immediately and it would take me about 40 minutes to arrive. It was now approaching 7:30pm and Mark said he would take Kaelly and the children back to where they were staying, so the children could start getting ready for bed. Mark would then drive back to Drake’s Island , Wells Maine and meet there around 8:00pm. Sounds like a plan.

Once I arrived a Drake’s Island, I called Mark and told him I was only two minutes out. Mark was already back at the lot and would meet me at the access path, with the blue mat. After a few pleasentries, Mark walked me down the path to the area he had marked up. Mark told me it wasn’t a large area and he was certain the platinum wedding ring, would be within the marked area. When we arrived, Mark showed me the approximately 10 foot radial circle he had drawn, in the sand. Inside the circle was a ball of seaweed. Again, great thinking on Mark’s part. I thought to myself that if the platinum wedding ring wasn’t within the circle, I would just grid search, back to the access path. Facing the water, I could see the absolutely beautiful , orange in color, Full Micro Harvest Moon, just starting to show itself, as rose out of the Atlantic Ocean. After admiring the rising moon, for a minute, I decided I would start on the left side of the circle and make my way towards the water. No targets at all on that first pass. I turned and headed back towards the shore and when I arrived at the top of the circle, I heard the unmistakable sound of a low conducting non ferrous metal target. My Target Identification (TID) was a solid 30. Exactly where I thought a men’s platinum wedding ring would ring up as, on the TID screen. I even said “Mark, I think that’s going to be it.” Mark replied “That would be awesome.” I the started searching the sand with my pinpointer and I saw it and said “There’s a ring.” I reached dow and picked the ring up. I passed it to Mark and he verified the ring by looking at the inscription. Mark said “That’s awesome.” with a nice big smile and thanked me for coming out so quickly and helping. Mark told me he is in town, from Western Massachusetts , near Springfield, Massachusetts, to run the Maine Coast Marathon, the next morning. Mark would be running the Half Marathon and I wished him well. My running days are over but I know what this race means to runners, such as Mark. GOOD LUCK MARK🏃‍♂️🏃‍♀️🏃

So, a few things helped Mark get his platinum wedding ring back. He didn’t panic, gently searched the area, without digging or moving any sand, out of the area. He also didn’t post it on Social Media, where anyone could have come down looking for it. As Law Enforcement and myself recommend, do not post the location of a lost piece of jewelry, on Social Media. Mark and Kaelly also knew to call someone to help, that they could trust. All great moves by them, made this an easy recovery and another ring back on the finger. Remember, “If It Matters To You, It Matters To Us”. I love my job. It’s the best job in the world.

 

 

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Property Marker Pin Lost In York, Maine, For Over 15 Years Found With A Metal Detector

  • from Old Orchard Beach (Maine, United States)
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This property pin recovery actually started last December. Deanna had contacted me to find three pins, in particular and possibly a fourth, on her York, Maine property. Her neighbors had recently sold their home and Deanna would just like to find the pins, dividing the properties. Deanna has lived at her current home for 15 years and has the most recent survey prints, from just before she bought her home, 15 years earlier. Deanna told me that she herself had pulled one of the pins, out of the ground, on her property because it was in the way of her mowing. Thankfully, that pin is not included in our current search. She now regrets that decision. There were two pins, in particular, Deanna would really like us to find and last December, with snow on the ground, Gary Hill and I did just that. We found the two property pins, without much trouble at all and a third pin, in the front of her house. The fourth pin however was behind her neighbors home in an area that the hay and bamboo was very thick and tall. The area was also very wet and had frozen, unlike the drier soil in the field itself. We had a difficult time swinging our detectors properly and with that area of the property already frozen, we decided to come back in the spring, when the ground would be thawed and the tall hay would be matted down, from the winters snow,

So, When I received a call from Michele to help find her bracelet, in York Harbor, Maine, I decided to give Deanna a call. Deanna was all for me returning and trying to find the fourth property pin, behind her neighbors home. After a successful recovery of Michele’s bracelet, I drove the 4.50 miles to Deanna’s house. The snow was gone, ground thawed and hay had been matted down, to a more manageable height. The property pin I was searching for would be exactly 85’, from property pin #3 Gary and I had found a little over 4 months ago. With my 300’ tape measure, I secured one end to Pin #3 and measured out the 85’. As you all know I am not a licensed surveyor and this pin had a degree of angle from pin #3 and I don’t have the tools to measure that angle exactly. I knew I could get close to it, but not exact. All this would mean is that my angle, over 85’ may put me off 5 or 10 feet from where the actual pin is. No prowl as I would just search the entire 10 feet or so of the area. Once I had the 85 feet measured out, I started to search. I received a strong ferrous target but it ended up being a piece of farm equipment. Another strong ferrous target turned out to be a very old and large square nail. Target #3 was something large. As I dug it up, it turned out to be a large chunk of concrete, WITH A METAL PIPE in it. This had to be the property marker. It was EXACTLY 85’ from pin #3. I also remembered from the property survey, there was at least one other pin that said “CONC. BND”. Concrete boundary? It appeared the pipe, running through the concrete and the concrete itself had broken. Just to be safe, I searched more area around the concrete pipe but nothing els was found. It had to be the pin, at exactly 85’. I took some photos and sent them to Deanna. Her response made perfect sense. She replied, “Likely got hit by the tractor mowing the field at some point. Great to have them all located, thank you!” Great point. The tractors had been cutting the hay in the field, for decades, if not longer. I am only guessing but because the ground is very wet, in that area, the property pin was placed in concrete, to keep it standing upright, until a tractor hit it anyways.

So I had a busy morning, with it starting in York Harbour, finding a Sterling Silver and Gold Bracelet, in a burn pit and ending in York,Maine, just 4-5 miles away with property pin #4, being found. Both Michele and Deanna were happy, as was I. We have the greatest job in the world. I love my job.

As a side note, We can help you locate your property pins BUT I am not a licensed surveyor. I am just a metal detectorist trying to help others out. I informed Deanna and all my clients that I may find their property pins but I cannot guarantee that the pin is in the correct location. I have no way of knowing if the pin has actually been moved, in the past, or not. Only a licensed surveyor can guarantee the pins are in the correct spot.
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Pendant Lost In Lyman, Maine Grass, Found With A Metal Detector

  • from Old Orchard Beach (Maine, United States)
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Just before 8:00pm, Thursday evening, I received a phone call from Elley. Elley told me that she is a professional dog trainer and that earlier in the day she had taken a “Rescue Dog, from Georiga, to Bunganut Lake , Bunganut Lake Town Park, Lyman, Maine . The dog, Kasper had been taken to the park, for a walk and a little play time. While playing with Kasper, Elley felt Kasper catch her necklace and breaking it. Elley was able to actually catch her “Tiffany & Co.” key pendant but didn’t see her other pendant. Her other pendant wasn’t a “precious metal “, like the Tiffany & Co. Pendant but a pendant, with a copper base metal. However, this pendant held great sentimental value because this pendant has an engraving, of Elley’s beloved dog, Mina. Elley has told me that Mina is her “Soul Dog” and loves her to the moon and back.
So, Elley is a busy woman and had multiple appointments, to train dogs, Friday morning. She thought she could get away at lunch, noontime, on Friday and show me the area, she thought the pendant was lost. I always prefer someone to show me the exact area, when the owner, thinks their item was lost. I can’t tell you how many times, I have searched the wrong area, because trying to describe an area, on the phone or text messages just doesn’t always work. When people look at a map, it isn’t the same as when they are there in person.
So, Friday afternoon, we met at the park and Elley walked me down to the area, that Kasper accidentally broke her necklace. The area wasn’t large, maybe 50’ X 50’. I could search that area, in no time. I would start a grid search of the area, east to west, and then west to east, on my return trip, to the area, I started in. Being a park, with swimming, cookouts and a playground, I knew there would be a lot of metal trash, in this park. I decided to use my smaller 9” coil, for my Minelab Manticore metal detector. The smaller coil would pick up less trash, with every swing making it easier to hear the pendant, I was searching for. As I started searching, I was picking up lots of trash signals and also, lots of coin signals. Elley went to get Kasper, out of her vehicle, while I searched , so she could walk him. As I grid searched, back and forth, I could see Elley and the dog, on one of the trails. As I was watching Kasper happily pulling Elley along, I received a very loud mid tone, and reading 63-64, on my VDI screen. Definitely an object, in the copper range and only one bar showing on my VDI. This is my depth gauge and one bar is telling me that the target is on top of the surface to 2 or 3 inches, below the surface. With recently lost items, a one bar display, is exactly what I was hoping for. I looked down at the area and after 10 seconds or so, I spotted a copper colored pendant, hidden in the dead grass. BANG, After just 15 minutes of searching, I had the pendant. Elley and Kasper were walking towards me and I told her that I had found her pendant. After tying Kasper up, at the swing set, she excitedly came over, to me. I hadn’t picked the pendant up and asked Elley if she could see her pendant, in the dead grass. After showing her the area and with a clue or two, it still took 30 seconds of visually scanning the area, before she finally found the pendant. That how well it was hidden, in the grass. Elley screamed with delight and was all smiles, holding the pendant, up to her body, so thankful to have her Soul Dog Pendant back. I took a video, of Elley, visually searching, for her pendant and you may see it, on The Ring Finders of Maine’s Facebook Page.
Elley has given me permission to show her business card and I will be happy to. Should anyone in Southern Maine or New Hampshire have any questions about her dog training, or her other dog services, please reach out to her at 603-502-8682 and she will be happy to answer any questions you may have.
Although I wasn’t able to meet Elley’s Soul Dog, Mina, Elley assured me she would give Mina the good news of getting her pendant back. As anyone who has ever owned a dog, dogs really are a member of the family.
So, another pendant, back on the chain. I love my job, it’s the best job, in the world 🦮😀❤️🙏

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Platinum And Diamond Anniversary Ring Lost In The Snow At Ice Fishing Derby, In Monmouth, Maine Found With A Metal Detector

  • from Old Orchard Beach (Maine, United States)
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I received the following voicemail, late Saturday afternoon, February 21, 2026
“Hi, this is Justin L******. I’m calling uh, because I live in North Yarmouth, Maine , and uh, earlier this morning, it seems like my wife lost her ring. We have an idea of where it could be as a general area, but wasn’t sure if uh, you could provide any services to help us locate it. Now, if you could please give me a call back. My number is 207-***_****. Thank you. Bye.”
I immediately called Justin back and after asking him what happened, Justin gave me all the details. Justin, his wife Jackie and their children, had traveled to Cochnewagon Lake, in Monmouth, Maine . The family was attending the “Jacks Traps Youth Ice Fishing Derby”, which is an annual event, attended by literally hundreds and hundreds of people. Anyways, just before arriving to the lake, Jackie took her 10 year Anniversary Ring off and placed it, on a hat, that was in her lap. The very sentimental ring was a gift from Justin and is a Platinum and Diamond Ring. Jackie took the ring off to apply sunblock on her and her children’s faces. They would be out, on the lake all day, with no shelter, from the sun and as I always say, safety first. Once she finished applying the sunblock and they arrived, she exited the vehicle, helped unload all the equipment and then the family went a couple hundred yards, out onto the lake, where the children, enjoyed the fishing derby, around the drilled fishing holes. Towards the end of the day, the family went over to the Awards Ceremony and watched that for a while. While at the awards ceremony, Jackie took her gloves off and her stomach knotted up, her heart skipped a beat, as soon as she noticed her beloved anniversary ring was no longer on her finger. Jackie and Justin immediately going through the days events and thought the ring must have fallen into the parking lot, when she got out of the vehicle or possibly, still in the vehicle. Since they were way out on the lake, they decided to start searching the immediate area of where they were standing. Unfortunately, there was too much snow and to many people, in the area. If the ring was there, it was beneath the packed down snow. They then went back to the area, where the family had been ice fishing. Again, they did not find the ring, in all that snow. They also checked the parking lot and did not see the ring but the parking lot was full of vehicles and people. They went home with a very distraught Jackie thinking of nothing but her missing anniversary ring. Once home, Justin remembered seeing an article on The Ring Finders of Maine, from a few years earlier. Once he searched Ring Finder Maine, he saw many of my posts and that was when he contacted me.
I told Justin that being so late in the afternoon, I could meet him first thing in the morning, at 7:00am, right around sunrise. I would also see if Gary Hill was available to assist, in such a large, potentially, search area. I would also bring a backup metal detector, for him to use, if he would like. Three of us searching, what could be an area of a couple of football fields, large, would definitely be better than just me. Time is of the essence, in all lost ring recoveries. The ring was lost in a public area and someone may have seen it in the parking lot or out on the ice already and picked it up. The other big concern was the upcoming blizzard, in just 36 hours, on Monday morning. If we didn’t find it soon, it may be gone forever or damaged beyond repair, by a snowplow, in the parking lot. Justin signed right up for using my backup metal detector, without hesitation. Justin was closer to Monmouth Maine and he was actually heading back up there to search the parking lot, once everyone had dispersed. He would let me know if he found it. An hour or two later and now dark, Justin called me with the news of the ring still lost. He and Jackie told me the parking lot was very slushy and snow was packed, from everyone driving and walking on it, during the day. As the sun was now gone, they were worried the ring would freeze , in the slush and asked if the metal detectors would be able to find the ring, if it was frozen in the slush or snow. I told them yes, absolutely. I also told them I would bring test/set up rings, including a platinum ring to set up, calibrate the detectors and show Justin what he would be listening for, as he swung a metal detector.
So the next morning, Sunday February 22nd, Gary and I left our homes, at 5:35am, for the approximately hour and twenty minute drive to Monmouth, Maine. Once we arrived, I sent Justin a text , letting him know we were there and he replied he was only 5-10 out, from arriving. Gary and I looked out at the lake and were praying we didn’t have to go out there and search, such a very large area. As we were getting our equipment out of the car, Justin pulled in. After a few pleasantries, Justin pointed out the area they had parked, yesterday and the route Jackie had walked down to the lake. Once we calibrated the machines and Justin was shown how to use the detector, we headed towards the area where we were all hoping the ring would be.
Since our metal detectors will interfere with with other, if they are to close to each other, Gary started going up along the snowbank, towards the area, where they had parked. I asked Justin to search the area, between the two parking lots, but closer to the second lot, so as we wouldn’t interfere with each other . I would follow Gary, in the area he had skipped over. Nothing was found along the snow bank other than a dime and a few targets, in the ground. Justin had come over to see what the targets looked like as I explained why some of the targets could not be a platinum ring. Gary and I would now search the area, closest to the lot Jackie had been in. I would start on the right side, along the snow bank, Gary would be about 8-10 feet behind me, and a few steps to my left. We call this the snowplow grid search. It’s like the snowplows, on the Maine Turnpike. One plow will be in the far right lane, one in the center lane and one in the passing lane, each plow covering ground, the other plows don’t get. After a few steps, Justin had a target and I went over to see what it was. Unfortunately, it wasn’t Jackie’s ring. I i returned to where I had left off and as I arrived, Gary said to me, “Hey, I’ve got a really good target, 14 on the VDI. It’s down in the ice and snow. I grabbed my detector and checked the signal and it sounded really great, but was it the ring? Gary got his pinpointer out, located the target and very carefully, chiseled the ice and snow away. Gary really didn’t want to damage the target. As he was removing the ice and snow, we caught a small glimpse of a silver colored ring, with diamonds. Gary has found Jackie’s anniversary ring, YES!!! I looked over at Justin and shouted out, “We got it, Gary found the ring”. Justin came running over and Gary pointed to the ring still buried in the ice and snow and gave Justin the honor of removing the ring. Once Justin removed the ring and took a photo, he sent a text to Jackie. Justin then called Jackie, with the good news Jackie was pleased, over the moon happy and I can’t be certain but I thought her voice cracked a time or two. Gary and I also noticed a few happy tears coming down Justin’s face. He was extremely happy and he was wearing his emotions, on his sleeve. When I congratulated Justin and stuck my hand out, for a handshake. Justin wouldn’t have it and gave me a big hug with a smile, ear to ear
A beautiful moment for Jackie and Justin. Gary and I do this, for exactly these reasons. There is no better feeling in the world than to be able to help return such sentimental items. As we always say, every ring has a story and now Jackie’s anniversary ring has a new chapter. Gary and I were on cloud nine, as we said goodbye to Justin. Another ring back on the finger. We have the best job in the world. We love our job!!!
Once home, I received the following message from Justin
“Thank you so much Dennis, I am eternally grateful for your help finding my wife’s ring. I’m still taken aback about your willingness to come and help at a moments notice. In today’s world, it makes you remember that there are still so many good people out there, and you stand out.”
Also, Please check out the video of Justin removing the ring, from the snow and ice and Jackie and Justin’s conversation , over the phone.
We have the best job in the world. We love our job!!!❤️🙏
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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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iPhone Cell Phone Lost In The Windham Maine Snow, Found With A Metal Detector

  • from Old Orchard Beach (Maine, United States)
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Thursday morning, December 4th, I received a phone call from Kandy. Kandy’s friend, Corey, had lost his cell phone, a few days earlier, while shoveling his driveway, during a snow storm. Corey wasn’t able to call me, because, well, he lost his phone. Kandy told me that Corey searched the areas that he had shoveled, along the driveway and up to the shed, on his Town of Windham, Maine property. Kandy and others had also searched the snow and snow banks, for Corey’s phone, without finding it. Kandy asked if I could search for the phone, with my metal detector. I told her I could absolutely search for it , but it would be in an hour or so, as Cheryl and I were in Biddeford, Maine, running errands. I told Kandy that as soon as I returned home, I would grab my metal detecting equipment and head to Windham, Maine. It was now just after 10:00am and I figured I could get to Corey’s house around 11:30am and 12:00pm. Candy said that would be great and if I needed anything, she only lived approximately 10 minutes away.
After dropping Cheryl off at home and loading my equipment up, I left for the Windham Maine Highland Lake area, arriving at 11:45am. I immediately took a photo, of the driveway and sent it to Kandy. I want to make sure I had the right property and not someone else’s. Kandy replied immediately and confirmed I had the correct property. The search area was not very large, at all. I was estimating 15-20 minutes to search the shoveled areas. I would start at the left front of the driveway, as you faced the house. I would search straight up the driveway and walkway, then turn and come down the right side of the driveway. As I started, I could see quite a few potential obstacles, in the way of large pieces of metal. While searching, large metal will mask the item, I am looking for. My metal detector cannot get within a foot or two of vehicle, lawn furniture, even houses, with aluminum siding. If the item I am looking for, is next to one of these sources of interference, I may not be able to find the item. As soon as I started, I saw a cyclone fence, lawn furniture and other metal objects. If I was unable to locate the phone, because of this metal, I would need to go back and use my pinpointer, sticking into the snow and hoping it picks up the phone. Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that.
As I made my way along the cyclone fence, it really wasn’t interfering at all, except in the area, of the support posts, for the fence. So far, so good but still no phone. Next up was the path, to the shed and there was no interference and also no phone. I then made my way back down the path, along the house, with interference, but still no phone. I only had a 25-30 foot section of snow to search, from the corner of the house, to the mailbox. Approximately 1/2 way between the corner of the house and the mailbox, I received a very loud high tone, reading 96, on my VDI screen. I couldn’t see anything, so I continued swinging the coil, removing a little snow, from the area, with each swing. All of a sudden, I saw the side outline of something black, just like a phone. I removed a little more snow and verified that it was Corey’s phone. My first thought was, YES, I wan’t have to go back along the metal interference it’s and search manually, with the pinpointer. I then took a photo, of the phone, all covered in snow and sent it to Kandy. The entire search, from the timestamp on the photo I took and sent to Kandy, at the start of the search, to the photo I just took of the phone was just 18 minutes. Not to bad. I then called Kandy and she was so happy that Corey would be getting his phone back. Kandy arrived about 10-15 minutes and thank me again for coming out so quickly and expressed amazement that the phone was found and so fast. She told me that where I found the phone wasn’t searched throughly because Corey really thought it wasn’t lost in that area and most of the search effort was along the other areas. As you all know, if you aren’t sure where something was lost, it could be anywhere. Kandy then took a few photos of me holding the phone, as she preferred not be be all over social media. As I was leaving, Kandy was still all smiles, thanking me and was heading, into the house, to leave Corey’s phone inside. Later that afternoon, Kandy sent me a message

“Thank you again! Really appreciate you coming so quickly. Corey is very grateful that you found his phone.”

So, more smiles and another phone back up to the ear. I have the best job, in the world.😀❤️🙏

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Platinum Class Ring Lost In Snow, Found With A Metal Detector In South Portland, Maine

  • from Old Orchard Beach (Maine, United States)
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On Tuesday evening I received a phone call, from Hailey and I could hear the anguish, in her voice. Approximately an hour earlier, at 9:00pm, Hailey lost her 2023 Oak Hill High School class ring. Hailey is a second year student at Southern Maine Community College (SMCC), in South Portland, Maine and was sledding, on a very small hill, on campus. Hailey and her friends didn’t have anything to slide with, so they improvised some pizza boxes, into sleds. With a snowy winter storm still raging on, Hailey was enjoying the fun of sliding down the hill, with her friends. On her third or fourth trip down the hill, Hailey noticed her 2023 Platinum class ring was no longer on her finger. Hailey and her friends search the snowy hillside for an hour, without finding the ring. At this point, one of her friends suggested Hailey call The Ring Finders of Maine. I told Hailey that I could absolutely search for her ring, but not until the next morning. Because the snow storm was still fairly strong and raging on, I wasn’t going to drive out there, until the storm stopped.

The next morning I arrived at SMCC and called Hailey. Hailey told me she would be right down. I saw a father and his two young children, sledding on the hill and asked them if they had found a ring. They had not. So while waiting for Hailey, I gave the children a demonstration, on how a metal detector works. They had shown an interest, when they saw my metal detector and since I like to set up and calibrate my detector, before I search, it was a win, win. The children loved how my detector, could find metal, under the snow. As I was finishing the demonstration, Hailey arrived, from her dorm room. Hailey then showed me the area they had been sledding and it was a very small area. I was able to search the area in just 10 minutes or so. Since I had searched just half of the hill area, she had been sledding down, I told Hailey, I would expand the search area, to the other half of the hill, on the chance it flew off her finger to that area. I would at the same time, research the area, I had just covered, At the bottom of the hill, there is a parking lot and some snow had been plowed , onto the base of the hill. I asked Hailey if the snowbanks, at the bottom of the hill, had been there, the previous evening. She replied they had not. I was concerned that her class ring may have been plowed into the now fairly frozen snowbank. Hailey had to go back to her dorm room for a few minutes and as she left, I started my grid search, at the top of hill and worked my way down, towards the snowbank and parking lot. I was unable to locate the ring, on the hill. As I stood at the base of the hill, looking at the snowbank, I knew there was no way I would find the ring, deep inside the frozen snowbank. From the parking lot, I  searched the hard packed snow, leading up to the snowbank. The ring was not in the parking lot. I decided to search the snowbank as best as I could, from the parking lot side first. Almost immediately, I received a very faint low tone, reading 05, on my VDI screen and approximately 6-7 inches in the snow. The reading told me that it was definitely a low conducting, non ferrous metal, the same as Platinum. Unfortunately there are many non ferrous trash signals that could ring up in that range, including different foils. It wasn’t a great sounding target but I needed to perform due diligence and check the target out. I removed some snow and ice and then I saw a reddish or purplish colored stone, in a silver colored setting. The ring has been found. I took a few photos, of the ring, as I first saw it. I then called Hailey and as the phone was ringing, Hailey appears at the top of the hill. I asked if she could come down, to the bottom of the hill, so I could ask  her some more questions. When she made it to the bottom, I told her to look in the dug hole, in the snow and asked her “ Does that look familiar?” As Hailey looked into the hole and saw her class ring she says, “Oh my gosh, oh my gosh, oh my gosh. Thank you” and picks the ring up, placing it back on her finger. Hailey kept thanking me and seeing just how much this ring means to her put a big smile on my face. I then told Hailey that she shouldn’t be wearing her rings, while sledding. Hailey told me she would never wear them again, while sledding. A lesson learned for a young college student, smiles all around and another ring back on the finger. I have the best job, in the world.😀❤️🙏

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Gold And Diamond Engagement Ring Lost In The New Hampshire Grass and Leaves, Found With A Metal Detector

  • from Old Orchard Beach (Maine, United States)
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I received a call from Kevin, on late Thursday afternoon, November 13th. Kevin told me that a white gold engagement ring had been lost, in the backyard, of his New Hampshire home.  I then asked him how long ago the engagement ring had been lost and why did he think the ring was out in the backyard? “Did your wife see or feel the ring come off, in the backyard”? Kevin replied that “The ring was lost last night. We were having a disagreement and the ring flew out the upstairs window and into the backyard. I have looked for it but can’t find it. I even threw quarters out the window to see where they would land, but the grass is tall and leaves are everywhere”. Well, ok then. These things do happen and Gary and I have been involved in 5-6 of these, over the last few years. Gary actually found a thrown ring earlier this year. The wedding ring had been thrown into the woods, back in 1997 and the ring was found 5” in the ground. That’s right, the ring had been in the woods, lost,  for approximately 27 years. Anyways, this isn’t the first thrown ring and certainly won’t be the last. Kevin wanted to know if I would be able to search, for the ring, in the morning. I told Kevin I would definitely be there in the morning, probably around 9:00am. Kevin then asked if anyone needed  to be there, as both he and his wife would be leaving for work, while it was still dark out. I told Kevin that no-one needed to be there but asked if he could send me a photo, of the area, that needed to be searched. Kevin agreed and actually sent me two photos. One photo was of the backyard, taken from the window, that the ring was thrown out of. The second photo was taken outside , showing the upstairs window, that the ring was thrown out of. This was perfect and the area was very small. Looking at the photos, I figured I could cover the area in just 20-30 minutes, max.

So, this morning, Cheryl and I headed out to New Hampshire. We arrived at right at 9:00am. We walked out back and the first thing I noticed was just how many leaves were in the yard, mixed in with the tall grass. No wonder Kevin didn’t find the ring. I decided to start at the top of the slope, because we found a test Quarter, that Kevin had thrown out the window. As I worked my way down the slope, I wasn’t receiving any targets, at all. A very clean lawn. Once I arrived at the bottom of the slope, I was making my way southeast, when nI received a nice sounding low tone, reading as a 19, on my VDI screen. Definitely in the gold range. I couldn’t see anthill because of the thick grass and leaves. I then took my pinpointer out and started zeroing in on the target. Once I pinpointed the target, I started removing some leaves with my hand, when I saw a beautiful engagement ring, staring back at me. We had found the ring in only 5-6 minutes. Because of the circumstances, I knew the ring should be found fairly quickly but it is still a relief when you actually see the ring. Since both Kevin and his wife were not home, I took a photo and sent it to Kevin, showing the engagement ring and my business card. Kevin replied “ WOW, that was fast.” I replied “5-6 minutes, Down over the hill.” He replied “Wow, In the leaves.” Because neither Kevin or his wife were home , Kevin asked me to place the ring in the garage.  “The garage side door is open, you can leave it in a tool box drawer. Can’t miss it.” I went into the garage side door, to look for the tool box. Cheryl went to our vehicle, to find a sandwich bag, to place the ring in. I found the large tool box, with no issue. Cheryl brought the sandwich bag to me and we placed the engagement ring, the quarter and my business card, into it. I then opened one of the drawers and placed the bag under some tool,  in the back right corner, of the drawer. Now this was a little unnerving to me. I really didn’t feel right just hiding the ring, inside a garage but Kevin told me neither of them would be home until 5:00pm or so. I then asked Kevin to let us know as soon as they get home and have found the ring. I have enough stress, in my life, I don’t need to worry about an engagement ring I found and left behind. At just after 5:00pm, Kevin texted me and said, “Got it!!! Back on the finger.” Kevin then thank me again and Cheryl and I couldn’t be happier or more relieved. 

Like I have mentioned, Rings being thrown are nothing new to us and we don’t judge people for these occurrences. They happen and will continue to happen and we will continue to help find them, free of judgement. I am just so thankful that Kevin called me immediately. If the backyard had been raked, mulched, mowed, etc., who knows if the ring would have been found. Kevin did the exact correct thing he should have done. He did not disturb the area and he called us for help. After approximately 16 hours after being thrown, the ring was found and returned. Another ring is back on the finger and everyone is smiling tonight. Kevin and his wife were not home, so I was unable to get a photo with either of them. We have the best job in the world.

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