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

Three Property Pins, Markers, Lost In York, Maine, Found In The Snow, With A Metal Detector

  • from Old Orchard Beach (Maine, United States)
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I was contacted by Deanna, concerning finding some long lost property pins/markers, 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, because it was in the way of her mowing. She now regrets that decision. There are two pins, in particular, Deanna would like us to find. The first, must find pin, is along the road and approximately 380’, from a property pin, in the front of her house, next to a fence. Pin #1 isn’t vital to find, but would make this job much easier. The pin is no longer visible, so we will need to find this pin #1, in a very confined corner, then measure 380’, down the road and search for pin #2, that Deanna wants us to find. If and when we find Pin #2, we will need to measure approximately 102 feet, out into the field, and find the Pin #3, that needs to be found, for Deanna. Deanna would also like to find a 4th pin, but it wasn’t as important as pins #2 & 3. For a job this big, area wise and measurement wise, I called in Gary Hill, to assist. Gary was happy to go with me and I set a date and time with Deanna.

This morning, December 11th, 2025, Gary and I headed to York, Maine. We arrived at just before 8:00am and was promptly met by Deanna. She showed us the area and then had to head into work. Gary and I immediately got to work and went to find Pin #1, in the front of the house, along the fence. This pin was found within 1 minute and we now had a property pin, to measure from and down the road, 380’, to Property Pin #2. This is one of the must find pins, that Deanna wanted us to find. So, Gary and I retrieved the 300’ tape measure and looped it around Property Pin #1. I then walked it down the road 300’ and marked it, at that point. Gary brought the tape up to the 300’ mark and we measured out another 80’. We should now be able to locate Pin #2, in the vicinity. Using a tape measure isn’t as accurate as GPS, now used by surveyors but it will put us very close, to within a foot or so. Gary and I started searching and our first target looked promising. A definite piece of iron, ringing up in the ferrous range. As we dug it, it turned out to be a large spike, from a long, long time ago. As we continued the search, our second target was also a ferrous target and after digging it, we had found what we were looking for. Property pin #2, had been found. Deanna had given us some orange stakes, to place next to the property pins. This pin was a pipe, as was Pin #1 and we placed the orange stake, right into the pipe. This Pin #2 was within a foot of where the 380’ measurement came to. I love it when it works out like this. Now on to Property Pin #3. A must find, for Deanna. Gary and I then measured approximately 102’, into the field and Gary noticed an iron rebar rod, sticking out of the ground, at just about the area, we would be searching in. We dug around the rebar and saw that the rebar had actually been placed, inside a pipe, like the one we had just found, up near the road. This was to easy, so we searched the area, for anymore property pins, but found absolutely nothing. Fantastic!!! Property Pins #1,2 and 3 had been found. Now let’s see if Pin #4, is findable. Deanna had told me that she thought Pin #4 may be in amongst some trees. Only one way to find out, Gary and I measured the 85’ and because it is being measured, at an angle and not a straight line, from Pin #3, we had a slightly larger area, to search. Some of the area, as you got close to the trees, were difficult to search, because the hay was fairly tall and we couldn’t swing the metal detector, very well. This area also has what looks like some sort of small path, for farm equipment or ATV’s. The path area was frozen and difficult to dig. The area also was producing a lot and I mean, a lot of large ferrous targets. We were digging up large iron pieces of old farm equipment. Could these pieces of iron, be masking out, the much smaller iron Property Pin? We did find a large iron Pin but we are not sure if it is the Property Pin. It was found 4’, short of where it should have been found. Gary and I think it may have been part of a fence, at one time. We had been finding fence wire in the area, so kind of makes sense. We decided to call it a day, due to the difficult circumstances and return, in the spring, once the ground thaws, on the path and the hay will be flattened, from this winters snow. I am sure we will find Pin #4, in the spring. I sent Deanna a message about finding 3 of the four Property Pins and two of the pins, were the ones, she really wanted, to have us find. Gary and I were happy to have found the three and were really happy to be getting out of the brutal windy conditions. We now have something to look forward to, this sprig and Deanna is extremely happy to finally know where the Property Pins are.
As a side note, 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 pin 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.
Another adventure with property pins and this was a first for Gary and I. We searched fo, the pins, in the snow. We had never done that before and we were actually surprised at how much fun it was. Ok, not that much fun! Thankfully, not all of the ground was frozen and the snow was only an inch or two deep. This up coming spring, Gary and I will head back to York and hopefully find Property Pin #4. Who doesn’t love helping others out. Gary and I are happy, Deanna is happy. A win, win for everyone and smiles all around. We 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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Seventy Year Old Wedding Ring Lost In The Rochester, New Hampshire Grass, Found With A Metal Detector

  • from Old Orchard Beach (Maine, United States)
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On Monday morning, November 17th, I received a call from Andrew. His 89 year old Grandfather, Arthur,  had lost his yellow gold wedding ring, three weeks prior, on his property, in Rochester New Hampshire. Now here’s the kicker, Arthur has been married and has been wearing this same ring for 70 years. WOW!!! I need to find this very sentimental, 70 year old wedding ring.

Arthur, although 89 years young still did work around his property and on the day he lost his wedding ring, had been throwing down bark mulch, along the flowers and plants, that ran along the house. Once Arthur had finished and was inside the house, he noticed his wedding ring, was no longer on his finger. Subsequent searches by Arthur, his daughter and Andrew, came up empty. A metal detector had also been used on the mulch beds and still no ring was found. The family’s thought was that the ring may be further down below the plastic that Arthur had put down in the flower beds, before throwing down the bark mulch. Andrew asked if I could come and give it a shot. He told me the area was very small, telling me, “ Facing the house (front) there’s two sections of mulch spread out in about a 20’x20′ area.  The mulching to the left side (while facing the house) is where he believes he lost the ring.   Let me know when you are planning on heading there and I will meet you there.” Perfect, a small area and I told Andrew that I could be there by 12 noon.

Cheryl Sargent Boothby and I left the Saco Main Street area and arrived at Andrew’s grandfathers house, in Rochester, New Hampshire, in just over an hour later. When we arrived, there was no one there. I messaged Andrew and he was on his way and would be there in approximately 15 minutes. I told him I would start searching without him. I looked at the mulch beds and knew I could search the entire area in just 10 minutes. As usual, there is a lot of metal along houses. Rebar in the concrete foundation and stairs, the bulkhead, garden lighting, etc.. I was hoping I wouldn’t get too much interference, from all this metal. As I started my search, Andrew’s mother, Arthur’s daughter arrived. I told her that I had only one target in the mulch bed, that was even remotely close to gold and it was deeper than the mulch. It was under the plastic tarp, Arthur had laid down, prior to applying the mulch. We cut the tarp open and the target was just a piece of  a small aluminum clamp. I finished the mulch beds and still no ring, when Andrew arrived. I showed him what I had found and told me that the ring, is not in the mulch bed but I would search it a second time and asked him if he would like to  use my other  metal detector and search also. Andrew was all for it and after getting the machine set up and a quick lesson for andrew, we search the mulch beds again. 5 minutes later, we finished and the same results, no ring. I then started asking Andrew many questions, “Did your grandfather work anywhere else on the property? Where were the bags of mulch placed, when he was grabbing and opening them? Had he thrown the discarded bags away”. Had he walked around the grass anywhere?”  Andrew didn’t know the answers to these questions, other than the bags of bark mulch had been just a few feet from the bulkhead. I was really concerned that the ring ended up in a discarded bag of mulch and thrown away. He could easily have lost the ring when he was reaching into the bags and grabbing mulch. Andrews mother checked the shed but the bags had already been discarded and were gone. He did lose it three weeks ago, so now the ring could be anywhere. I told Andrew we just needed to expand the search, to the lawn, around the mulch beds. We would start along the house, grid back and forth, working our way further away from the house. I was on the side of the house, near the bulkhead and Andrew was on the front left corner of the house, as you faced the house. My first pass yielded nothing. I turned, took a half step away from the house and headed back towards the bulkhead and left front corner, of the house. Just as I arrived at the bulkhead, I received the unmistakable sound of a non ferrous low conducting metal. Could it be Arthur’s gold ring, foil, aluminum pull tab, another small piece of an aluminum clamp? The detector was going off nice and loud, repeating the signal. Andrew stopped and was watching me. I looked down and it took me a second but I could see a nice round circular piece of metal, pressed into the ground and it was gold in color. It was a ring, Arthur’s ring. Andrew was still looking at me and I said, “I found it, I got the ring.” Andrew just yelled out in joy and told me, as he walked over to me, that as he was watching me, he saw my eyes get big and my face had changed into a big happy face. He knew I had something good. Andrew thanked me many times and shook my hand, saying, “You guys are the best.”. In just 30-35 minutes of searching and the mood had definitely grown happier. I always feel great to hear praise like that. Arthur’s wedding ring was pressed, into the ground, flush. It is my opinion that the ring would never have been seen, in that position. It blended right in with the surrounding grass. It appears that the ring had been stepped on, probably while Arthur was still working in the area, or while everyone was walking around searching, for the ring, 3 weeks earlier. Andrew then called his mother, who had left, to tell her the good news. Unfortunately, I was not able to meet Arthur and reunite him with his 70 year old wedding ring, that he has been without, for the past 3 weeks. Arthur and his wife, are out of town, on a trip. Andrew would be calling him up and telling him the good news. So, another ring is going back on the finger and there are smiles all around. I have the best job in the world.😀❤️🙏

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Newlywed’s Gold Wedding Ring Lost In The Portland Maine Hay, Found Visually, While Searching With A Metal Detector

  • from Old Orchard Beach (Maine, United States)
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Sunday morning, November 23rd, I received a phone call, from Chase. Chase told me that 2 days previously, on Friday, he noticed his wedding ring was missing. I asked him where he lost it and Chase said it could possibly be in two different places. The most likely area was at a new home construction, in Portland, Maine or inside a buying being totally rehabbed, also in Portland. The new home construction was where Chase thought his wedding ring was lost. He had been throwing down hay, on the new lawn and at one point, he actually felt his wedding ring slipping off and he caught it, before the ring actually left his finger. When he finished with the lawn, he drove over to the building being rehabbed and worked there for the next two hours, before he noticed his wedding ring was no longer on his finger. Chase searched the building he was currently working in but could not find the ring. He had been tearing down the walls, to the studs and throwing the debris, into a dumpster. Chase was really hoping the ring wasn’t in the dumpster, full of demo. He remembered the ring almost coming off, at the new construction and headed back there, visually searching the hay, he had thrown down. Unfortunately this search and a subsequent search, the next day resulted in disappointment. The wedding ring was not found. I told Chase I could absolutely search the hay, at the new construction site but the indoor rehab site would have to be a visual search only. There is just to much metal, inside buildings and our metal detectors, do not work well, at all. As I was the only one home watching our 8 year old Granddaughter, I told Chase I would be right out there, once my daughter got off work or my wife Cheryl returned home, from her 5 mile walk. About an hour later, Cheryl returned home and I headed to Portland.

When I arrived at the new construction, in Portland, Chase was already there, waiting inside his truck, for me. After a greeting, Chase told me the ring was new, as he had just gotten married, in October. I told him that I have had many newlywed recoveries, as the rings just don’t always fit right and the newlyweds just aren’t use to having a ring on. I was praying to myself to find this wedding ring, for Chase and his bride. We then got right down to business. Chase reexplained everything and walked me around the new construction and showed me where he had been putting the hay down, which ended up around the entire house. The area wasn’t large at all and I thought to myself that I should be able to cover the entire area, in just 30 minutes or so. I started the search, on the left front corner of the building , as you faced it and would work my way clockwise, around the building. As I started searching, I was finding quite of few pieces of construction metal, go figure. Small pieces of aluminum, copper, brass, etc.. Chase continued his visual search, for his ring, just a few feet ahead of me, occasionally coming back to see what had set my detector off. Unfortunately, I had finished the left side of the house and the backyard, with no ring being found. As I was heading down the right side of the house, I had completed approximately 2/3 of the searchable area and was starting to get nervous, as I was running out of real estate to search. As I was making my way down the right side of the house, with Chase just 10 feet or so ahead of me, I heard Chase say something to me and I looked in his direction. He was hold something up and showing me, as I asked, “Is that the ring, did you find it?’ As Chase nodded his head up and down, he said “Yes, I found it”. I walked right over to him and gave him a high 5 and congratulated him. He looked at me and said “Do you know how many times I have walked and looked at the hay, in this area, the last few days. It just blends in with the hay.” Chase and I both had big smiles and I could see the relief, on his face. He was one happy newlywed as I am sure his wife, Annie was, as he sent her a photo of the ring. I always say that once I am on scene it becomes a team effort. Clients will continue to search visually and if the area is large enough, I will bring an extra metal detector, with me, that my client may use. It doesn’t matter who finds the ring. The goal is to put the ring back on the finger. Mission accomplished. After all, Teamwork is Dreamwork.
I also told Chase and Annie that in his line of work, construction, Chase should wear his silicone ring. Working with your hands all day is just an invitation to lose the ring. It is also very possible to severely damage the ring, while building homes. Chase already is wearing his silicone ring and actually had it on, when I arrived. Better safe than sorry. I personally remove my wedding ring, whenever I go metal detecting, doing yard work or go to the beach. Again, better safe than sorry. It’s so much easier to replace an inexpensive ring, than a very sentimental ring.
So, another ring back on the finger and another smile on the face. I’ll say it again, “I have the best job in the world and there is no better feeling than to help someone get their very sentimental ring back.”
I would like to congratulate Annie and Chase, on their recent marriage Here is wishing Annie and Chase a lifetime of love and happiness 😀❤️🙏

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Seventy Year Old Gold Wedding Ring Lost In The Rochester, New Hampshire Grass, Found With A Metal Detector

  • from Old Orchard Beach (Maine, United States)
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On Monday morning, November 17th, I received a call from Andrew. His 89 year old Grandfather, Arthur,  had lost his yellow gold wedding ring, three weeks prior, on his property, in Rochester New Hampshire. Now here’s the kicker, Arthur has been married and has been wearing this same ring for 70 years. WOW!!! I need to find this very sentimental, 70 year old wedding ring.

Arthur, although 89 years young still did work around his property and on the day he lost his wedding ring, had been throwing down bark mulch, along the flowers and plants, that ran along the house. Once Arthur had finished and was inside the house, he noticed his wedding ring, was no longer on his finger. Subsequent searches by Arthur, his daughter and Andrew, came up empty. A metal detector had also been used on the mulch beds and still no ring was found. The family’s thought was that the ring may be further down below the plastic that Arthur had put down in the flower beds, before throwing down the bark mulch. Andrew asked if I could come and give it a shot. He told me the area was very small, telling me, “ Facing the house (front) there’s two sections of mulch spread out in about a 20’x20′ area.  The mulching to the left side (while facing the house) is where he believes he lost the ring.   Let me know when you are planning on heading there and I will meet you there.” Perfect, a small area and I told Andrew that I could be there by 12 noon.

Cheryl Sargent Boothby and I left the Saco Main Street area and arrived at Andrew’s grandfathers house, in Rochester, New Hampshire, in just over an hour later. When we arrived, there was no one there. I messaged Andrew and he was on his way and would be there in approximately 15 minutes. I told him I would start searching without him. I looked at the mulch beds and knew I could search the entire area in just 10 minutes. As usual, there is a lot of metal along houses. Rebar in the concrete foundation and stairs, the bulkhead, garden lighting, etc.. I was hoping I wouldn’t get too much interference, from all this metal. As I started my search, Andrew’s mother, Arthur’s daughter arrived. I told her that I had only one target in the mulch bed, that was even remotely close to gold and it was deeper than the mulch. It was under the plastic tarp, Arthur had laid down, prior to applying the mulch. We cut the tarp open and the target was just a piece of  a small aluminum clamp. I finished the mulch beds and still no ring, when Andrew arrived. I showed him what I had found and told me that the ring, is not in the mulch bed but I would search it a second time and asked him if he would like to  use my other  metal detector and search also. Andrew was all for it and after getting the machine set up and a quick lesson for andrew, we search the mulch beds again. 5 minutes later, we finished and the same results, no ring. I then started asking Andrew many questions, “Did your grandfather work anywhere else on the property? Where were the bags of mulch placed, when he was grabbing and opening them? Had he thrown the discarded bags away”. Had he walked around the grass anywhere?”  Andrew didn’t know the answers to these questions, other than the bags of bark mulch had been just a few feet from the bulkhead. I was really concerned that the ring ended up in a discarded bag of mulch and thrown away. He could easily have lost the ring when he was reaching into the bags and grabbing mulch. Andrews mother checked the shed but the bags had already been discarded and were gone. He did lose it three weeks ago, so now the ring could be anywhere. I told Andrew we just needed to expand the search, to the lawn, around the mulch beds. We would start along the house, grid back and forth, working our way further away from the house. I was on the side of the house, near the bulkhead and Andrew was on the front left corner of the house, as you faced the house. My first pass yielded nothing. I turned, took a half step away from the house and headed back towards the bulkhead and left front corner, of the house. Just as I arrived at the bulkhead, I received the unmistakable sound of a non ferrous low conducting metal. Could it be Arthur’s gold ring, foil, aluminum pull tab, another small piece of an aluminum clamp? The detector was going off nice and loud, repeating the signal. Andrew stopped and was watching me. I looked down and it took me a second but I could see a nice round circular piece of metal, pressed into the ground and it was gold in color. It was a ring, Arthur’s ring. Andrew was still looking at me and I said, “I found it, I got the ring.” Andrew just yelled out in joy and told me, as he walked over to me, that as he was watching me, he saw my eyes get big and my face had changed into a big happy face. He knew I had something good. Andrew thanked me many times and shook my hand, saying, “You guys are the best.”. In just 30-35 minutes of searching and the mood had definitely grown happier. I always feel great to hear praise like that. Arthur’s wedding ring was pressed, into the ground, flush. It is my opinion that the ring would never have been seen, in that position. It blended right in with the surrounding grass. It appears that the ring had been stepped on, probably while Arthur was still working in the area, or while everyone was walking around searching, for the ring, 3 weeks earlier. Andrew then called his mother, who had left, to tell her the good news. Unfortunately, I was not able to meet Arthur and reunite him with his 70 year old wedding ring, that he has been without, for the past 3 weeks. Arthur and his wife, are out of town, on a trip. Andrew would be calling him up and telling him the good news. So, another ring is going back on the finger and there are smiles all around. I have the best job in the world.😀❤️🙏

 

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Property Marker Pin Lost In Kennebunk Maine, Found With A Metal Detector

  • from Old Orchard Beach (Maine, United States)
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I received a call, from Mona, concerning a property marker/pin. She and her husband John had seen the marker/pin, years ago, when they had bought the property, in the Town of Kennebunk, Maine and only a mile or so from Kennebunkport Maine . Now however, they were unable to find the property pin, but had found the other 3 corner pins. The only missing pin was the southeast pin, that was in the front of the property, along the area of the road. Mona and John also had the distances, between the pins. I told Mona that with that much information, the property pin should be found, if it was still there. Mona had told me that the area that the pin should be in had recently had some fill brought in, to make a few parking spots, on the neighbors property. Mona was concerned the her property pin had been buried by the excess fill. We made plans to search for the pin, today, Wednesday November 12th.
I arrived a few minutes early and was getting all my equipment out of my vehicle, that included metal detectors, pinpointer, shovel, spade and a 300’ measuring tape. While getting my equipment organized, Mona came out and introduced herself. She then showed me the area of the missing pin and pointed out a stick that she and John had stuck in the ground, where they thought the pin should be, within a few feet. I started up my metal detector and immediately started searching. I received a signal within a few seconds. It was a ferrous target, which is what I was looking for. As I dug the hole, no pin was found, only an old square nail. Scanning the area provided more nails and even a 1955 Dog Tax pendant, but no property pin was found . I told Mona we should measure from the Southwest pin, that was also along the road, to the area of the missing pin, in the Southeast area , of the property. The measurement was 180.37’. Once we measured it out, the mark was about 4-5 feet short of where Mona and John thought it would be. Searching the new spot produced nothing but more nails. We then decided to measure from the northeast corner, in the back of the property, to the southeast corner. This measurement is 223.’. This measurement was 7’ short of where the pin was thought to be. How is this possible? Unfortunately, property lines, for the most part, don’t run in straight lines. There are usually angles and degrees involved. Even a measurement of 223’ at a 5 degree angle could alter the measurement by several feet, from where you think the pin should be. I started searching the new area and within a couple of minutes, I received a nice loud ferrous target and my VDI was telling me the target was 0-2 inches, under the surface of the ground. The ground was absolutely covered with leaves and I started removing the leaves and wiping the topsoil away when I saw the yellow cap, of the property pin. I then said “There it is” and Mona said something to the effect of “Wow, my friend didn’t think we would find it”. Mona was just so happy the property pin hadn’t be buried, by the work done on the parking spaces and told me that I had saved her from a lot of anxiety, for finding the pin. Mona then went up to the house and got some orange tape and tied it around the now found pin, so they will be able to see the pin much more easily. So now Mona and John can relax, knowing where all the corner pins are located. There is no better feeling than to be able to find the item that my clients are looking for. Smiles all around and I have the best job, in the world. 😀❤️🙏
As a side note, I am not a licensed surveyor. I am just a metal detectorist trying to help others out. I informed Mona and John that I may find their property pin 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 correct.
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Gold Wedding Ring Lost In The Westbrook, Maine Grass, Found With A Metal Detector

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Gold And Sapphire Wedding Ring Lost In The Beach Sand, At Crescent Beach State Park, Cape Elizabeth, Maine, Found With A Metal Detector

  • from Old Orchard Beach (Maine, United States)
Contact:

“LOST WEDDING RING: Shot in the dark here but I believe I lost my wedding ring at a local beach this evening. I know I’ve seen posts about folks who look for lost jewelry with a metal detector. If anyone has leads, they’d be appreciated. Many thanks!”

This was a Facebook Post, on a local community page, by Chrissy, on Tuesday evening, August 26th. There were 16 different comments, on her post, to contact me, The Ring Finders of Maine. The referrals are greatly appreciated, thank you all, for your support.

Wednesday morning, Chrissy in fact, did contact me and told me she was really unsure where the ring was lost but thought that Crescent Beach State Park , in the Town of Cape Elizabeth, Maine was the most likely place her wedding ring was lost. Other locations included the path between Crescent Beach State Park and Kettle Cove and Kettle Cove Ice Cream. It was now 8:20am and I was tied up until around 10:30am but told Crissy that I would get to Crescent Beach State Park, as soon as my morning commitment was completed, around 10:30am. I then called Gary Hill and asked if he was interested in searching, such a large area. Gary signed up for the search and met me at my house, at 10:30am.
We arrived at CBSP at just after 11:00am and my heart just sank, when I saw the beach. Because of Hurricane Erin’s large waves, over the past 4-5 days, the beach was full of seaweed and I could see where the Beach Rake had gone through the area, that morning, removing seaweed, from the previous high tide. I took a few photos and sent them to Chrissy, to verify we were in the correct area and to let her know the beach had been raked. Her reply was
“Yes, Exactly. Ah, ok. Such a bummer – I wish I could have gotten in earlier this morning. What Timing”
Gary and I were not feeling good about this but we had to search the area anyways. This may have been just been seaweed removal and not an actual rake, in the sand, removing all trash and valuables.
Gary started grid searching, at the entrance path to the beach and I went down to the very thick and heavy seaweed, that had yet to be removed. We decided to extend the grid search area, by about 50’ to the north and south. This is a common practice we use just in case the client was off just a little, in their location. As I was grid searching, I wasn’t getting many targets, at all. A few very deep dimes, in the 7-8 inch deep area, but nothing near the surface and this really concerned me. Did the beach rake get the ring or drag it down the beach? Just had to keep searching. Gary came over and reported the same observation, about no targets. Nothing but a few deep targets and no shallow targets. As Gary and I continued searching the area, we were closing in on each other and the ring still hadn’t been found and I started thinking on how we would search the path to Kettle Cove. Gary and I had only a couple more passes and the area would have been completely searched. All of a sudden, I received that low tone, I had been looking for. Nice and loud, VDI reading of 27 to 29 and only about an inch deep. This was too good to be true and I called Gary over. I told Gary, I was so sure this was the ring that I wanted him to take a video of me recovering the ring. Once I relocated the target, I took my pinpointer out and was brushing the sand, off the top of the target. All of a sudden, I saw a small glimpse of gold. I picked the ring up and looked at Gary, filming, and said “We have a ring. Congratulations Chrissy, we found your ring.”

I then sent the video to Chrissy, saying “Congratulations, We got it” Chrissy replied “Really!!!!!” Before I finished reading her text, my phone was ringing and it was Chrissy. She was extremely excited and was truly in disbelief, as were Gary and I. Chrissy told me she would be there in just 15-20 minutes. As Gary and I were waiting, Chrissy came bouncing across the parking lot, with might be the biggest smile, we’ve ever seen and we’ve seen a lot of smiles. Chrissy was so happy to have her wedding ring back and we were happy she had it. You could just tell how much this ring meant to her. Later in the day, Chrissy sent me the following text messages (Condensed into one message).

“Still buzzing from your ring recovery, Dennis! If you and Gary hadn’t helped so willingly and immediately, my wedding ring might have been found, but it wouldn’t have come back to me. Jon and I got married during the pandemic. We had a beautiful ceremony in New Hampshire, with the backdrop of the mountains, with just our immediate family. It was beautiful but the circumstances were hard. My band is called the “Land and Sea” band by the jewelry maker who made all my rings. The colors of the sapphires represent the colors in nature, on “land and sea”. Hiking in the Catskills, Adirondacks, and then the Whites after we moved to Maine is what brought us joy and reprieve during the pandemic and my wedding band symbolizes that. I’ve worn it summit of Mt. Washington, Katahdin, and countless high peaks across New England and New York. It means so much that you and Gary took the time and care to find it. I am so grateful and so admire you for what you do! “

Chrissy also posted the following, on her original post, looking for help

“The Ring Finders of Maine I cannot stop smiling. I am floored by your generosity of spirit and grateful beyond words! You are truly remarkable humans to do this, Dennis and Gary. 🩵✨”

Well Chrissy , Thank you so much, for your very kind words, Gary and I truly appreciate it. We love being able to help people like Chrissy smile, once again. What she thought was gone forever, is now back on her finger, where it belongs. We have the best job, in the world.😃❤️🙏

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Three Gold Wedding and Engagement Rings Lost In The Old Orchard Beach,Maine Sand, Found With A Metal Detector

  • from Old Orchard Beach (Maine, United States)
Contact:

After a late night recovery, at Longsands Beach, York, Maine, in York Beach Maine, I had to go to Boston, the next morning. As I was driving to Boston, Massachusetts, I received a phone call, from Lindsey. Lindsey’s sister, Paulette, had just lost 3 rings, in the dry sand, in front of The Brunswick, in Old Orchard Beach, Maine. They were a Wedding Ring, Engagement Ring and one other sentimental ring. The rings were White Gold and one of them had diamonds around it. After losing the rings, in the sand, the group searched but could not find the rings. They reported the missing rings, to the lifeguards and the lifeguards recommended calling The Ring Finders of Maine. That is when Lindsey, called me. I told Lindsey that I was on my way to Boston, Massachusetts, but I could get someone there and quickly.
Now, I had arranged, with Gary Hill the previous week to be ready for some call outs, as I wasn’t going to be available. As always, Gary stepped up and said he would be ready, if I called. As soon as I hung up with Lindsey, I called Gary and gave him the contact information, for Lindsey. Gary called me back a few minutes later and said he was meeting the clients, at the Brunswick, as soon as he could get there and he was leaving immediately. Once Gary arrived he was met by Lindsey and Paulette. Since they had left the area they were in, there was a question,bat to where they had actually been sitting. Each woman thought they were in a slightly different area, than the other one thought and another person, in the group, thought they were sitting somewhere else. Since the three area were all close together, Gary told them that he could search all three areas. Gary immediately grid searched the first area and only found the usual beach trash and a few coins. He then walked to the next location and searched that area, as well. Still none of the three rings had been found and there was just one area left to search. Gary then went to the third area and almost immediately received a nice low tone. Using his pinpointer, Gary located the first target, put his fingers, into the sand, felt a ring and pulled out the first missing ring. Gary ran the coil, in the area of where he found the first ring and he received a “funky sound”. He then pinpointed the area, put his hand, into the sand and was able to pull out the other two rings. That’s right, the other two missing rings were just pulled from the sand. Lindsey and Paulette were ecstatic and were so happy to get the rings back. Gary was also smiling ear to ear and was just happy to have been able to help these women out, with his Metal Detecting skills. As Gary always says, “I’m in it for the smiles” and he certainly saw some smiles today. There is no better feeling than to see the faces of our clients, when they see their lost jewelry, for the first time. What started out as a stomach turning disaster, turned into smiles and hugs. Thank you Gary, for all you do.❤️🙏

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Three White Gold and Diamond Rings Lost In The Ogunquit Beach Maine Sand, Found With A Metal Detector

  • from Old Orchard Beach (Maine, United States)
Contact:

After having returned from a successful recovery, of two Gold Rings, in the Ferry Beach State Park area, of Saco, Maine, I had some errands to run. While running my errands, I had a phone call come in and it went to voicemail,

“Hi there, my name is Lisa ******, and I’m calling, um Ring Finders of Maine, because I “Think” that I lost a ring, yesterday, on the beach, in Ogunquit Beach. So I thought I could start with you guys and see what service you offer? Thank you so much my name is Lisa ******, 617-***-**** thank you, bye, bye.”

I immediately called Lisa back and asked her what had happened, the previous day. Lisa told me that she and a very good friend, Michelle, had gone to Ogunquit Beach in the afternoon and into the evening, from 3:15pm to 8:00pm. They even had dinner, out on the beach while enjoying a beautiful day, on a beautiful beach. When Lisa first arrived, she had taken her 3 white gold rings off, to apply lotion and had placed the rings, in her shirt pocket. Lisa and Michelle at one point, moved from their original location, to a new location, out on the sandbar, as the tide was going out. Once they left and returned home, Lisa realized her 3 gold rings were missing. Unfortunately, the tide had been coming in for a few hours now and it was also dark outside. Lisa went back, to the beach, first thing, in the morning and searched for her rings, at low tide. But, as we all know, once the waves get to the rings, they will no longer be visible, as the rings would have made their way, under the sand and out of sight. Lisa and Michelle then gave me the two different areas, where the rings could be. I would need to grid search, both of those areas.
I told Lisa that I would go down to Ogunquit, Maine: Beautiful Place by the Sea, later this afternoon, when the tide would be in our favor and search. I could sense the pain Lisa was feeling and her voice actually cracked a few times and I figured that she was in tears also. But, I still had to tell her that the area she thinks the rings were lost in get heavily metal detected, by locals and vacationers. I also told her that if the rings were lost, out on the wet sand or sandbar, the rings would have been visible, to anyone walking by. Rings simply do not sink into the hard packed wet sand, at low tide, they just don’t, until the incoming tide reaches them. Lisa and Michelle told me the rings would be out in front of the Norseman Resort, in one of the two locations, they had been and understood it would be a long shot, to find them. I totally understand and agree that the effort has to be made to find the rings.
So, later in the afternoon Cheryl and I went down to Ogunquit, Maine and found the beach to still have lots of people, enjoying their day, at just after 3:00pm. Since one of the areas had less people in it, I decided to search there first. This was the first location they had been in and was just beyond the Norseman Resort and on the other side of the buoys, near the Lifeguard Stand. I decided to grid search, north to south, horizontally to the water and shore. Starting at the buoy to just past the lifeguard stand would more than cover the area they were first in. I always over shoot an area, while searching, just in case, the rings moved a little or the client was off a little bit on their directions. As I grid searched the area and working my way towards shore, I figured It would take about an hour or so to complete. I wasn’t finding anything at all, other than small bits of metal trash. Once I completed the area, just over an hour later, I was going to search the second location but there were just too many people in the area, to grid search the area properly. I messaged Lisa and Michelle and told them that I would search the second area, very early the next morning, at 5:00am. This would allow me plenty of time to search the area properly, without being sidetracked by having to go around anyone and possibly missing the area, the rings would be in.
Saturday morning, I got up at 3:45am and got all my equipment loaded, into the vehicle. I arrived at Ogunquit Beach at just before 5:00am and the beach was basically deserted, other than a few fishermen and a few people waiting for the sunrise to happen. Sunrise is my favorite part of the day. Quiet, serene and just something magical, seeing the sun rise from the water. I always stop and take a few photos and enjoy the view.
I started this morning’s search at the buoy again, but this time, I was on the Norseman Resort side, of the buoys, not the lifeguard stand side. As I looked out over the area, I couldn’t help but think it would be a miracle if I found these 3 gold rings. It was now on the 2nd day of the being lost and I kept thinking of how the rings would not have been under the sand, when they were first lost, but would have just sat there, for anyone walking by, to pick up. I also kept thinking of the other Metal Detectorists that frequent the area. Even thinking this was an extreme long shot, I still have to do my due diligence, for my client and for myself. Lisa really has a lot of sentimental emotions tied up in these rings and I am not leaving until I know there is nothing else I can do.
Today I searched east to west, from the shore to the water line, as the water was going out. Shore to water, to shore, to water to shore and kept repeating this sequence. I was actually finding multiple coins, junk earrings and even a junk ring, but not the 3 gold rings I wanted to recover. After 30 or 40 minutes of searching I was approaching the end of the sandbar, where it drops down to the wet sand. I was right on the corner, of the northern end of the Norseman Resort, Tidal Suites-On Ogunquit Beach, Maine. I then received a signal that was giving me a few different numbers on my VDI screen. I was getting numbers ranging from 08 to 20 and the tone was definitely a low tone. My first thought was, no way. Multiple targets all in the gold range and also the tone, was the tone I love to hear, when searching for gold. I admit my heart beat a little faster and I was praying these were Lisa’s rings. I took my long handle sand scoop pushed it into the sand. I then dumped the first scoop of sand right next to the hole I just dug. I ran my coil over the sand and got two targets. I then took my pinpointer and gently wiped the sand away revealing a gold ring. I kept removing sand and saw a second gold ring. WOW, I found them, now I needed to find the third one. I placed the first two rings, on the hard sand of the sandbar (remember, they won’t sink into the hard sand) out of the way and ran my coil over the dug hole. I didn’t receive a signal, from the hole but I did receive an 08 reading on the VDI screen, just a few inches away. I just smiled as I knew this was the 3rd ring. Just had to be. I dug the hole and ran the pinpointer over the sand, located the target and after pushing the sand away, there was the third gold ring. I am amazed they were still there but so happy for Lisa. I just knew how much these rings meant to her and I couldn’t wait to tell her but it still wasn’t even 6:00am. I took a video to send her but would wait awhile, so as not to wake anyone up.
Once I sent the video, via text, to both Lisa and Michelle, at 7:45am, I immediately heard back from Michelle, “Unbelievable! This is absolutely amazing!” And then Lisa one minute later, “OMG.. most beautiful sight I’ve ever seen!! So amazing!!! You are the best..”
Lisa then called me from her home in Massachusetts and I could feel the happy tears through the phone. She was so appreciative and kept thanking me. She told me that I saved her and I was her “Mer-Man”. Lisa was just over the moon to get her very dear, sentimental and loved rings back. Lisa then asked if Michelle, who lives in Ogunquit Maine, could come and pick the rings up, as Lisa was in Massachusetts. I heard from Michelle about 10 minutes later and we made plans, to meet in front of The Norseman Resorts office. Perfect. Once Michelle arrived, I took a picture of Michelle, with the 3 rings and texted it to Lisa, telling her that Michelle now has the rings.

Lisa replied, “How about a picture of the two of you together?” Michelle and I took a selfie and sent it to Lisa, who replied, “ The Best.. wonderful and happy ending 💕thank you both!!!”
Michelle then took a selfie of us and sent to Lisa, on the group text and said,
“Yay!! Lisa, Here is your “mer-man”! Best day ever!
Lisa replied “Definitely a Miracle! “
I have been metal detecting for 25 years and I really thought this was going to be a long shot. I mean the rings were missing for two days, in a very heavily populated area of metal detectorist and I still can’t fathom how no one saw the rings laying on top of the hard sand, of the sandbar. I agree with Lisa, this was a miracle and I am so happy to have been a part of it. Taking Lisa’s sad tears and making them into happy tears is the best feeling ever and I love doing this for people like Lisa. As you know, every ring or three has a story. Now these beautiful rings have a new chapter, in their story. I love my job of putting smiles back on people’s faces ❤️🙏

 

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