we made the recovery Tag | The Ring Finders

A botanist lost her keys at Tilden Park and we helped to recover them!

  • from Walnut Creek (California, United States)
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Bay Area Ring Finders: Brendon Chapman… Metal Detecting Service/Call ASAP     925-580-2590

I have fallen victim to misplacing my car keys just at my home, panic set’s in quickly once you realize…. I can’t imagine how hopeless it would feel to loose them out in nature while on a hike.

Meet Cody, a botanist who spends a lot of time working outdoors. Recently, while working at one of our local regional parks, she did just that.  Her vehicle parked merely feet away from her task, locked out from access and unable to move off of the trail.  Her work had her bushwhacking amongst the park flora investigating if rare species existed around a 100′ circumference of a work point.  Think tall grass, twisting berry vines and poison oak, thick brush and tree’s.  To make matters worse thick duff and leaves and remnants of old building materials litter the ground.  At some point her keys slipped from her possession lost to the wild.

Lucky for Cody, a spare set of keys could be driven from her home not to far from the site and she would not be forced to abandon her vehicle at the location.  She spent a healthy amount of time searching the area before deciding she might need additional help in order to recover the lost keys.

I was away on a camping trip with the local cub scout pack when I received her request for help, but she graciously waited a full week for our schedule to align.  We met early the following Saturday and headed out on the trail to the location.  I might have been a little overwhelmed when I saw the search zone, but we quickly got to work bushwhacking our way through the overgrowth.  We did find some oddities along the way and trash definitely made the metal detector chatty.  I found a neatly made bird nest nestled on the ground with four little eggs.  It was not the item we were looking for, but it was a treasure non-the-less.

We were under a grove of tree’s searching and as we moved off, there on the ground were the keys we were looking for…We made the recovery!

Cody and I celebrated that we had located them and that we would not be trudging along the overgrown hillside any longer.  All that remained were a few quick photos and a short walk back to the trailhead.

Thank you Cody for taking me on an early morning adventure in the hills.  I won’t soon forget our time on that search.

 

 

 

Bay Area Ring Finders: Brendon Chapman… Metal Detecting Service/Call ASAP     925-580-2590

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Engagement Ring Lost in Tall Grass in Antioch…Found!!!

  • from Walnut Creek (California, United States)
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Bay Area Ring Finders: Brendon Chapman… Metal Detecting Service/Call ASAP     925-580-2590

As we all know, there are multiple ways a ring can go missing; none of them feel good. Gabriela reached out to me with just such an issue.

On Monday, I received her text message and a few short hours later we found ourselves wading waist deep in tall grass on a hillside behind her home.  The ring went lost the previous day and a search ensued.  The ring was not found and the situation felt futile, but for an experienced detectorist with a “can do” attitude and the right equipment, we made the recovery!  It didn’t take long to locate the ring with the information Gabriela was able to provide, and a bummer situation was turned into a joyous moment of triumph.

Thank you Gabriela for allowing me to help you with the situation and trusting in me to get the job done.  I wish you all the best in your life’s journey and I hope you will tell the tale of that ring far and wide.

Also, for the geeks like me…this ring was found on an Equinox 800 with an 8-9 VDI.

Bay Area Ring Finders: Brendon Chapman… Metal Detecting Service/Call ASAP     925-580-2590

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Two sentimental rings lost in Berkeley park…Found!!!

  • from Walnut Creek (California, United States)
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Bay Area Ring Finders: Brendon Chapman… Metal Detecting Service/Call ASAP     925-580-2590

It’s nice to know that people care.  When Lydia lost two very sentimental rings given to her by her sister, she told me that at least 10 individuals assisted her in trying to locate them.  The rings were loose fitting and came off when she softly tossed a ball in the park, surely they shouldn’t have traveled far.  At last, the search was called off and Lydia was focused on an alternative solution.

She set out to rent or buy a metal detector, but couldn’t find a local source for quick deployment.  That’s when she stumbled upon my information in association with THERINGFINDERS.  The following morning I received a text message asking if I had availability to come to Berkeley to locate a missing ring.  I quickly called to let her know I could be available anytime after 3:30pm and would gladly come recover the ring.  That’s when I learned it was actually 2 missing rings. She let me know that the search area would be small and she knew pretty well where she was when they came off.  She would be right!

I arrived a bit after 4pm ready for a hunt. Lydia was waiting in the park along with her infant son, a young nephew, her mother, and a dog (or two).  She showed me the area and even performed a sample toss of the ball.  As I got underway, the first thing I noticed was that the park was noisy, that is, there was an abundance of metallic objects in the ground.  Then, boom…a perfect gold signal!  The problem was, the beautiful heavy gold earring that was recovered did not belong to Lydia (someone didn’t find THERINGFINDERS). A few minutes later, another really great signal!  This time I knew without a doubt it was the first of two rings and the second would be close at hand. Meer moments later, I was handing both rings back to a very relieved and grateful owner.  We had made the recovery!

Remembering what I said above, it’s nice to know that people care… As I collected my equipment ready to leave, an older gentleman walked up with an very vintage Bounty Hunter Coin Master detector.  Lydia seemed to know him and he may have been in the park helping the day before.  He commented about my Equinox and congratulated us on the recovery of the two rings.  He then set off to explore the area with his machine.  I assisted with a Garrett Pin-pointer and he produced a penny that we provided to Lydia’s nephew as “buried treasure.”  I was glad to have met Lydia and to have played a roll in the story of these two sentimental rings.

Bay Area Ring Finders: Brendon Chapman… Metal Detecting Service/Call ASAP     925-580-2590

 

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Family friend looses silver skull ring and we recover it!

  • from Walnut Creek (California, United States)
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The Bay Area Ring Finders Brendon Chapman… Metal Detecting Service/Call ASAP     925-580-2590

It was St. Patrick’s Day and I had just finished smoking a corned beef for several hours and was finishing up cooking sides for our dinner.  The phone rang; a family friend we met through our community scouting pack.  Sarah explains that her son wore his fathers silver skull ring to baseball practice at the downtown Waterfront Park and at the end of practice it was missing.

I let her know that I would make the five minute drive to the park as soon as our dinner was finished. When I arrived, I was overwelled by the size of the grassy area of the outfield.  Sarah informed me that Odin had pitched and played first base, all areas that did not include grass.  He did however, walk to the warm up mound at the rear of the outfield and so we began our search there.  As the field lights when out our task got just that much harder, but it wouldn’t take long searching the grass between the dugout and the right field fence that we would “Make the Recovery!”

This would mark the very first recovery I performed in my home town of Martinez, CA and I was happy that I got to perform this service for a family that we know and enjoy.  Thank you Sarah, Odin, Amon, and Freya for your friendship.

The Bay Area Ring Finders Brendon Chapman… Metal Detecting Service/Call ASAP     925-580-2590

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White Gold Wedding Set lost at the beach…Recovered in Alameda!!!

  • from Walnut Creek (California, United States)
Contact:

The Bay Area Ring Finders Brendon Chapman… Metal Detecting Service/Call ASAP     925-580-2590

I was on a short holiday on the island of Kauai when I received a text message from Kimberly.  She had lost her white gold wedding set on the beach and contacted my good friend Jes Muse (also of The Ring Finders and creator of The Bay Area Bleepers YouTube channel).  Jes had provided my contact information to her since I am usually ready and available for all rings in the East Bay.

I sent a text back to Kimberly explaining that I was in Hawaii and would be flying back that day. I informed her that I wouldn’t be available until the following day but would be glad to assist. Additionally, I let her know that I would reach out to schedule a time to meet up for the search.

The following day was frustratingly filled with meetings, emails, and project issues, not the day one should have after a relaxing trip.  I ended up working late to get caught up and I had to let Kimberly know that the search would need to wait an extra day (not something I am accustom to doing).

Excited to get out and search, I took my kit with me to work so that I could travel direct to the beach in Alameda for the search.  I knew that the tides would be at their lowest just after quitting time and that’s when I would have the best search area.

I met Kimberly and her adorable children on the beach and she explained the situation.  I gave her and each child a cone to place where they thought the ring could be (a little fun and healthy competition). At this time, I had little doubts that I would find these two rings quickly.

I was humbled a bit, when after about 45 minutes of grid search in two directions I still had not uncovered the mystery.  With a little adjustment closer towards the water, I was on my fourth or fifth line, when I hit a sweet signal.  A perfect 7 in all directions, I was able to recover the diamond engagement ring without alerting Kimberly or the kids.  I swung over the hole again and a second perfect 7.

I called Kimberly over and informed her “I think there might be a ring underneath the sand here and it might be the match to this one…” as I held out the diamond ring for her inspection.  She was floored and had the absolute best look of disbelief, joy, and relief on her face.  Then with one last scoop…We Made The Recovery!!!

Both rings were safely extracted from the sand and as for the competition…turns out the little boy was closest.

Thank you Kimberly for taking me on this adventure with you and the children.  The look on your face when you realized I had found your engagement ring will forever be burned into my memory.

 

 

 

 

 

The Bay Area Ring Finders Brendon Chapman… Metal Detecting Service/Call ASAP     925-580-2590

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Wedding Band Lost in Mill Valley… Found with Metal Detector!

  • from Walnut Creek (California, United States)
Contact:

The Bay Area Ring Finders Brendon Chapman… Metal Detecting Service/Call ASAP     925-580-2590

This story includes a traveling mother, a sweet nanny, three adorable yet maybe mischievous young girls, and a lost wedding band.

Robin texted me one evening explaining that her daughter had taken her beautiful wedding band (rose gold with diamonds) to a playground with her.  She goes on to explain that the ring was then lost in the woodchips and remained at large.  She was looking for an individual with a metal detector to help find it.

I was just the person for the job and responded to plan and schedule a search.   Robin would be traveling and confirmed her nanny Gaby and the children would meet me for the recovery of this ring.

Gaby and I coordinated a date and time and when it came I was up to the task.  I arrived a bit earlier than expected and when Gaby arrived with three cute blonde girls all roughly the same age as my three boys, I got a good chuckle thinking about the old TV sitcom the Brady Bunch.  This search had all the makings for a good episode complete with a wholesome plot and the nanny (although much younger and far more cute than that of the TV series).

We walked out to the play structure where the ring was reportedly lost and one of the girls showed me a tiny area and said the ring was somewhere just there.  I turned on my machine and waved it less than three times and in less than a couple of seconds…We made the Recovery!

Thank you Robin for utilizing me to help recover your beautiful ring!  I’m so happy for the best of outcomes.

 

The Bay Area Ring Finders Brendon Chapman… Metal Detecting Service/Call ASAP     925-580-2590

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Three Gold Coin Charms lost in Emeryville Park…Found!

  • from Walnut Creek (California, United States)
Contact:

The Bay Area Ring Finders Brendon Chapman… Metal Detecting Service/Call ASAP     925-580-2590

I was contacted by Anna to assist with the location and recovery of three gold coin charms from a park in Emeryville, CA.  Each charm was engraved with the initials of one of the handsome men in her life, the larger one for her husband, and the two smaller for each of her young boys.  These charms were cherished Mother’s Day gifts, so when they fell to the ground and disappeared into the long grass, it was heartbreaking.  When these charms were not located after extensive searching, a quick google search brought Anna to me.

I arranged to meet the family at the park the next evening and requested permission to bring along my three boys.  It was a new and interesting park that I thought they might enjoy and the weather would be much cooler than that further inland.  I met the family and they gave me a quick run down of the who, what, when, and how as well as the exact location.  It didn’t take long to locate the first of three charms, a small one.  A few moments later, the second was recovered, the larger one.  Then for a while…nothing! After a few anxious minutes…beep, beep…We made the Recovery!

Afterward, we talked about the significance of the 3 gold coin charms while the children played in the park.  We took a handful of photos to memorialize the event, and after a while a fun soccer game broke out.  It was a great evening for everyone.

The Bay Area Ring Finders Brendon Chapman… Metal Detecting Service/Call ASAP     925-580-2590

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Unique ring lost in backyard garden…Recovered!

  • from Walnut Creek (California, United States)
Contact:

The Bay Area Ring Finders Brendon Chapman… Metal Detecting Service/Call ASAP     925-580-2590

I received an email from the Mount Diablo Metal Detecting Club requesting volunteers for a ring recovery in Pleasant Hill, CA.  The ring had been lost several weeks earlier while the gentleman performed backyard gardening work.  I responded that I could be available to assist.

The following day members of the MDMDC and the local chapter of the UPI met at the residence to perform a search.  After a short description of the work being performed when the unique and beautiful ring went missing, we got to work and it did not take long for this All Star Team to Make The Recovery!!!

The Bay Area Ring Finders Brendon Chapman… Metal Detecting Service/Call ASAP     925-580-2590

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Diamond Ring Lost While Swimming…Found!

  • from Walnut Creek (California, United States)
Contact:

The Bay Area Ring Finders Brendon Chapman… Metal Detecting Service/Call ASAP     925-580-2590

On the 18th of June Corrine lost her diamond ring while taking a swim test at a local lake.  She spent plenty of time searching the bottom for the missing ring with no luck.  At some point in the panic of the moment she entered the situation into ChatGPT on her phone.  This resulted in providing a link to THERINGFINDERS.COM and directly to me.

As it happened, I had two constraints to providing immediate support.  First, I was out of town with the family visiting relatives.  The second issue was that my Equinox 800 was still awaiting a new control box after damages accrued while providing support on a dive recovery.  I would also need to reach out to the local parks department for permission to enter the water with a metal detector.

A few days later, these constraints had worked their way out and we scheduled the search.  I would be teaming up with Mark (a member of the MDMDC) and Evan (scuba diver) would be tagging along for support as well.  Members of the parks department would escort our small team to the lake shore to prepare and within minutes of entering the water…We Made The Recovery!!!

The ring was successfully recovered in 3 feet of water in the precise location Corrine said it would be.  It was as easy as they come and all parties were ecstatic for a speedy success.  I can’t thank everyone involved enough for playing their part in getting this diamond ring back to it’s rightful owner.  Thank you very kindly.

The Bay Area Ring Finders Brendon Chapman… Metal Detecting Service/Call ASAP     925-580-2590

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Lost cherished earring missing in Pleasant Hill…FOUND!!!

  • from Walnut Creek (California, United States)
Contact:

The Bay Area Ring Finders Brendon Chapman… Metal Detecting Service/Call ASAP     925-580-2590

Karen was enjoying her nightly walk with her dog.  They had walked for about 55 minutes and the path meandered around surface streets, a small park, a short trail, the college campus, and a parking lot.  Once home she realized that one of her cherished earrings was missing.  It had been a very warm evening and she remembered her sun hat bothering her a bit and had taken it off several times.  She noted that her earring was more loose than usual and may have popped of while adjusting the hat.

The following morning she had walked the path again in an effort to locate the missing object.  Being ever resourceful, when she did not locate it herself, she sought help.  A brief look at The Ring Finders put her in touch with her most local agent.

I was at my boys swim meet in Concord, CA when she contacted me.  I let her know I could be available for a search later that afternoon and so we met around 5:30 pm that evening.  Karen took me for a walk of the route as I asked questions seeking details about the how, when, and where the earring might likely have gone missing.  It was apparent that most of the areas were not going to be metal detectable and that a lost item could be easily identified by the public.  That was until we entered a giant parking lot.  As we walked through I noticed a sparkle…broken glass!  And another…more broken glass!  I almost did not investigate the next sparkle, chalking it up to the myriad of broken bottles and glass throughout the lot.  I was super glad I did because…We made the recovery!!!

Karen did not notice that she had walked me right to the exact spot she lost the earring and that not only did I spot it, but I had picked it up.  She seemed a bit startled when I asked her to stop.  Later she would state that she thought I was going to rob her in the abandoned parking lot! I showed her the item and in disbelief she sought out the other earring thinking I must have somehow taken possession of it.  She was speechless and stunned, still in disbelief that after our long walk together, it was back in her hands.

Well Karen, It was the real deal and I could not have been happier to assist you with locating this beautiful earring.  I rather enjoyed our walk and our conversations.  I hope you never have to go through that again, but in the event you do…I’m here!

The Bay Area Ring Finders Brendon Chapman… Metal Detecting Service/Call ASAP     925-580-2590

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