Dave Milsted, Author at The Ring Finders

Cell Phone Lost in a Retention Pond in Marmora NJ

  • from South Jersey (New Jersey, United States)
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I received a text from an unknown number asking if I am the guy who finds things. His co-worker lost a cell phone in a retention pond. I started asking questions like, “How deep is the pond?” He said 4 – 5 feet deep. He then put me in touch with Danyl.

Danyl said that her son was using her phone and received some very upsetting news. He threw her phone & it ended up in the pond. Turns out Danyl is also a 1st responder in Ventnor. Our schedules weren’t lining up. We were able to meet 2 weeks later. I told her it was a slim chance that a phone underwater that long would still work. She wanted to try, since there were pictures on it that weren’t backed up.

Picture 1 shows the pond. I put on my chest waders and walked into the pond. After a few feet, I turned around and exited the pond. I said that I couldn’t search the pond on foot because there were too many roots, stumps, and vines under the water. A major tripping hazard. If I tripped in chest-deep water, my waders would fill up and possibly get submerged.
I asked if I could use her nearby kayak. She said yes and retrieved it for me. After loading myself & my gear, I said I am probably going to drown anyway, as I was only on a kayak once before.
I launched and immediately realized it wasn’t going to be as easy as I thought. Every time I swung my metal detector, it sent the kayak in a different direction. The water is about 4 feet deep, and the paddle is about 5 feet long. I started jamming the paddle into the muck, swinging my detector, keeping the paddle a few feet away, and repeating the process. After a while, I realized I was getting no metal hits. You would think I would be finding beer or soda cans, bottle caps, or fishing gear.
Still no sounds after 2.5 hours of searching. I said to myself, one more trip up and back, as I was doing a grid pattern. On the way up I finally got a loud hit. It was fairly large. I tried to use my scoop to retrieve the item. But because of the roots & vines, I couldn’t get it. Danyl said she had been searching for it since it was lost while she was magnet fishing on her kayak. I didn’t want to move, so I asked if there was a way she could bring me the magnet. She went and got another kayak. When she got to me, she tried several times to fish it out. I had her move away a little & give me the magnet. On my first drop, I felt it click on. I gave her the rope and told her to bring up her phone.
We both were amazed when we saw it was her phone. When we got back to the shore, I put the phone on a table leaning upright with the charging port down in direct sunlight to start the drying process. I told her not to power it on or charge it for at least a week. When the sun went down, to get a Tupperware bowl & put an inch of rice on the bottom. Then place her phone on the rice, and then cover the phone with even more rice. Leave it in the rice for at least 1 week.
After a week, she plugged in the charger, and it lit up with a message, water detected. She contacted me, and I said to put it back in the rice for another week. 10 days later, she texted me. With the message that it was from the phone we rescued.
All I could say was wow. I love helping people, but helping another 1st responder is extra special. She is a paid firefighter with 20ish years in. The person who originally contacted me was her captain. We shared a lot of stories.
I am dedicated to finding your lost items!
I love my hobby!!
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Lost Ring at a Construction Site in Woolwich NJ

  • from South Jersey (New Jersey, United States)
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Kevin called me after a friend of one of my successful recoveries referred me. He lost his 

titanium wedding band while at work. He was at a large construction project, working with moving sprinklers & hoses from different lots. It could be on 1 of 4 lots. We agreed on a 6:30 am time for the search.

I met Kevin at the construction site. It is a huge new housing development. He showed me the 4 properties that he was working on. The lots were not that large. I started on the 1st one, no luck. Moved to the second lot, strike 2. The third lot was the biggest, strike 3. But I was not out yet…

The fourth lot, about 5 minutes in, I finally got a good tone. Spread the grass from the newly laid sod, and there was Kevin’s ring. I took some pictures, then called Kevin to come to the 4th lot. He showed up about 5 minutes later. I asked him if there was any other place it might be, he went to the bed of his pickup and started looking there. I held up his ring while we continued to look. The look on his face when he realized that I was holding his ring was priceless. He explained that he was leaving the next day for vacation with his wife & kids to celebrate their 10th wedding anniversary. 

I asked him what his wife would say when she found out he had his ring back. He decided to FaceTime her while I was there. She couldn’t believe it when he held up the ring for her to see. I hope they had a GREAT vacation!

 

I Love My Hobby!!

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Lost Earring at Soccer Complex in Marlton NJ, Found by Dave Milsted

  • from South Jersey (New Jersey, United States)
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Jeff found my website while searching for lost earrings. He gave my number to Katie, who called me. She was refereeing a lacrosse game and at one point swatted at her ear. She felt her earring hit her back and disappear. Katie & several friends spent a couple of hours searching on their hands & knees with flashlights.
I went right to the fields when we hung up. Katie & her mom were out there again looking. I told them not to get their hopes up because stud earrings are one of the hardest things to find, as they have minimal metal on them. I told them I would give it my best shot. She showed me the area she believed she was in & I started a grid pattern.
I had her remove her other earring and did a test scan. I knew the tone & number to look for. I was receiving a lot of signals, but not within the desired range. After about 10 minutes, I got a number in the range, I bent down to look, and so did Katie’s mom. I think we both saw it at the same time. Katie’s mom said “Oh my God” like 10 times. “I can’t believe he found it.” Katie was shocked!
We took a few pictures. I learned that Katie is a newlywed. The earring was pushed into the dirt under the thick grass, so it was probably stepped on. I told her to take it to a jeweler to ensure the large stone is still securely set. They said they are going to tell everyone they know about my service.
I Love My Hobby!!
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Lost Ring Under a Boat Dock in Brigatine NJ, Found by Dave Milsted

  • from South Jersey (New Jersey, United States)
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Saturday evening, I received a call from Dino. He explained that his daughter lost her wedding ring in Brigatine Bay. She was distraught and depressed. His heart is hurting for her. I asked the usual questions: Does she have an idea where? What was she doing? What is the ring made of? His answers were under a boat dock, sitting in a chair, putting on sunscreen. 

He said his daughter Nadine would be calling me. A short time later, Nadine did call. I had a few more questions for her. How deep is the water at high tide and low tide? She said at low tide, waist to chest deep. She had taken off her ring to put on sunscreen, securing the ring in the side pocket of the chair. When she went to put the ring back on, she found the pocket had a hole in it. No ring was to be found. The dock, made of wooden boards, has significant gaps between the boards. They didn’t hear the ring hit the boards or plop into the water. I told her I would be down the next morning before low tide. 

Not knowing what the hunt was going to require, I packed chest waders, a wetsuit, 3 detectors, my long-handled scoop, and a 6-foot pole to determine how deep the water was. I met Nadine and her family at the location. They showed me the area and what she did. I had asked her the night before to mark the spot where her chair was, and there was an “X” marks the spot on the deck. I placed my bag of goodies on the X. I climbed down the ladder with my pole to measure the water. It was about 2.5 feet deep. Luck was on my side; I had dreams of the water being up to my neck. 

My choice of weapons was chest waders, my long-handled scoop, and my Nokita Legend detector. I got dressed and entered the water. Less than 1 minute in, I got my 1st signal, I scooped up the sand, and there was Nadine’s ring. It took me longer to put on my waders than it did to find her ring. 

I pulled it out of the scoop and showed it to her husband. He was in shock. He couldn’t believe that I found it, let alone in under a minute. Then Nadine saw it, and her mother screamed. The looks on their faces were priceless. Her mom says she works at a local restaurant, and she is going to tell everyone what I do and how professional I was. I gave them a refrigerator magnet to keep my information handy!

I Love My Hobby!!

 

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Long Distance Recovery, by Dave Milsted

  • from South Jersey (New Jersey, United States)
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Allisa called me last week with a unique request. She had lost two rings on her four-acre property and wondered if I could help find them with my metal detector. She had already recovered her engagement ring but was desperate to locate her missing wedding band. Another detectorist had quoted her $250 per hour, but I don’t charge for these searches; I work on a reward basis. The catch? Her property was a three-hour drive away.

She explained that in a moment of frustration, she had thrown both her wedding band and engagement ring. The engagement ring was found, but the yellow gold wedding band, adorned with many diamonds, was still missing. She and her husband had searched extensively, even weed-whacking and raking the area, but to no avail.

I initially offered to drive up on Sunday, but Allisa hesitated, concerned about the distance. Instead, I suggested a simple trick she could try that very night. I told her to go out to the area after dark with a powerful flashlight and scan the area where she had found her engagement ring. I emphasized the importance of doing it before any rain or dew settled on the grass. She agreed to give it a try.

The next day, I received an ecstatic text message. Within ten minutes of following my instructions, Allisa had found her wedding band! She was overjoyed, and honestly, it made my day too.

I Love My Hobby!!

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Lost Ring in Haddon Twp NJ Found by Dave Milsted

  • from South Jersey (New Jersey, United States)
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Eric reached out to me via email. He’d been in a rush to take down his Christmas decorations before an incoming snowstorm and, in the process, had lost his yellow gold wedding ring. We arranged to meet after his workday ended.

Upon arrival, Eric showed me the area where he’d been working. The search area, blanketed by about three inches of snow, wasn’t very large. He mentioned he needed to pick up his daughter from school but would return in about ten minutes.

As soon as Eric and his wife left, I began my search. Just a minute later, my detector gave a strong signal in the gold range. I brushed away the snow, and there it was—Eric’s gleaming yellow-gold wedding ring. I snapped a few photos and waited for their return.

When I saw them approaching, I pretended to still be searching. Eric’s wife got out of the car first, and I quietly asked her to wait a moment. Eric followed and said, “I guess you haven’t had any luck.” I asked if he recalled shaking his hands or doing anything that might have flung the ring beyond the immediate area. He didn’t. While he scanned the lawn, I revealed the ring from my gloved hand. His wife noticed first, and her surprised smile was wonderful to see. Eric’s reaction was even better.

They were both overjoyed. His wife was particularly thrilled, exclaiming, “This is great! Now I can finally get that dining room carpet and not have to buy him a new ring!”

I love my hobby!

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How I helped Joe find his lost keys in Laurel Springs NJ

  • from South Jersey (New Jersey, United States)
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Last night around 9:30, I received a text message from Joe, who had been referred to me by my nephew, Jason. Joe wanted to know if I could help find his lost keys. He’d spent the entire day clearing a lot and splitting wood, only to discover he couldn’t locate his keys when it was time to leave. Luckily, he had a spare set delivered, so there was no rush. We agreed to meet the next morning around 10.

I arrived early, greeted by a steady drizzle. Prepared with my rain gear, I suited up and headed to the area where the wood was piled. Hoping to spot the key fob in the daylight, I carefully walked around the piles, but no luck. Realizing I’d need my detector, I went back to my SUV to grab it.

I began searching an area where the tall grass was matted down, marked by splinters of wood from splitting. Just two minutes in, my detector gave a strong tone. I moved some grass and leaves aside—and there they were: Joe’s keys. He hadn’t arrived yet, so he missed the quick find.

I returned to my SUV and waited for him to show up. When Joe arrived, he took me to the spot where he’d spent most of his day. We were just three feet from where I’d found the keys. As he described his activities and scanned the ground, I pulled the keys from my pocket and asked, “Do your keys look like this?”

At first, he looked puzzled, then recognition dawned. “Yes!” he said, clearly amazed. The moment he realized they were his keys was priceless—a mix of shock and relief.

It had only taken about five minutes of walking and searching to locate the keys. Without a detector, though, Joe never would’ve found them. They were pressed into the mud and hidden beneath leaves.

As a bonus, I now have access to some firewood for my fire pit—a small token of appreciation.

I Love My Hobby!

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Yardwork & Christmas Lights Equals Lost Ring in Cinnaminson NJ. Found by Dave Milsted

  • from South Jersey (New Jersey, United States)
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Sara called me, asking for help to find her husband’s gold wedding ring. She found me on the Ring Finder’s website. He had spent the entire day working in the yard—cleaning out the gutters, raking leaves, and putting up Christmas lights. Despite his efforts, he couldn’t locate the ring. With only about an hour of daylight left, I headed over to assist.

When I arrived, Devon was still searching for the ring. There was a massive pile of leaves at the curb, scheduled for pickup that week, so I began my search there. Unfortunately, I had no luck.

Next, we moved to the flower beds under the gutter. I received a strong signal under a small bush. Despite not seeing the ring on the ground, the signal was promising. Using my pinpointer, I discovered the signal was coming from within the bush.

It turned out that when the ring slipped off Devon’s hand, it landed in the bush and got hooked on one of the branches. The ring, a beautiful yellow-gold piece, held significant sentimental value as it belonged to Devon’s great-grandfather.

I love my hobby!

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Lost Keys in the Snow

  • from South Jersey (New Jersey, United States)
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I received an email from Sheila describing how she lost her shed keys while shoveling snow after the last storm. They were in her jacket pocket, and when she was finished, they were gone. We set up an appointment after she left work at 7 pm.
Luckily, it was a small search area, as it was the coldest night of the year, 23 degrees. She showed me the area that she thought they would be in, so I started my search. About 15 mins and 21 cents later, no keys were found. I had to ask Sheila to move her car; because it was at the edge of the search area, and my detector was sounding off to the car.
5 minutes later, I had her keys. They were buried in a pile of snow & ice that was under the rear of where she had parked her car. She was so happy. She needs access to her shed as another snowstorm is coming in a few days.
I Love My Hobby!!
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Ringing In The New Year 2024, By Dave Milsted

  • from South Jersey (New Jersey, United States)
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I am not using the real names of this couple. I will call them Betty & Barney Rubble. Barney called me to see if I could help find some lost jewelry. He was referred to me by Fellow Ring Finder/Treasure Hunter Ed Cropski (he was out of town for the weekend). I work with a core group of excellent detectorists with much experience. If one of us gets a call and can’t make it, we give it to someone in our group.
Barney said his wife got very angry and walked out the back door to their deck, and Bam-Bam threw 2 silver bracelets, a gold wedding ring, and a gold engagement ring. Doing his own reconnaissance, he found 1 of the bracelets. I was near the neighbor’s fence beside a pile of wood rubble, reminding me of a gravel pit. The other 3 items are still missing.
Betty was out on their deck in the area where she was when she threw her jewelry. She looked very sad. After reviewing the angle of where Barney found the first bracelet and the scene, I told Barney that gold rings would travel farther than the lighter bracelet. I asked if his neighbors were okay with me searching their backyard. He said yes that he contacted them after our phone call. Betty went inside.
I started searching the neighbor’s yard. There were a lot of signals. There is a newer deck, and I was finding a ton of wood screws that are used in deck building. After about 12 minutes of searching, I started to look under the deck. I almost immediately found the engagement ring. It was under the deck. From where Betty threw the jewelry and the angle of where the ring was, it had to go through the open-backed stairs from the ground to the deck; if I threw it, it would have bounced off one of the steps. Lucky throw.
I intensified my search under the deck. It took another minute or two to find the missing bracelet. At this point, Barney had no idea I found either item. I asked him if he could hold my pinponter. He came over, and I held out my hand and dropped the engagement ring & bracelet into his hand. The look in his eyes was priceless.
I asked Barney if he would search on the deck for the other ring while I searched on the ground. I didn’t feel right searching up there with all of the windows. The neighbors know Barney, not me.
About 5 minutes went by, and Barney was standing next to me. He held out his hand that held the missing ring. My hunch paid off; it was laying on some covered furniture on the deck. He enjoyed the thrill of making the discovery.
Betty came out on their deck as I talked to Barney in the driveway. I told her to come down & get her jewelry. She was grinning from ear to ear. Barney and Betty are happy once again in Bedrock.
I love my hobby!!
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