Yesterday at 7am I received a text message from a friend of mine. One of his friends lost her rings on the beach at Margate NJ two days prior. He said he gave my information to her.

Dina & I texted a few times, she thought that she wouldn’t need my services because she and her son were heading back to the beach with a borrowed metal detector. I told her to keep me posted with their progress.

3 hours later I get a text that they need my help. I told her that I would head down after work. I wasn’t sure if I would have the stamina for a long search as I just had back surgery 8 weeks ago.

It took just over 2 hours but we found both rings. Below is Dina’s story:

Here’s how it happened, so we can ALL learn a lesson from my mistake: I went to put on sunscreen, but didn’t want my rings to get all goopy, so I took them off and put them in the cup holder of the beach chair. When I was done applying the sunscreen, I got distracted, and went off to play with my kids, not putting the rings back on. Then I forgot all about them.
Hours later, my husband slung the chair over his shoulder to carry it back to the truck. (Btw, he followed the path of our two year old niece on the way out, so it could have fallen out ANYWHERE.) It was not until we got home, when I was taking off my jewelry, that I remembered what I had done. If you know what “plotzed” means, that’s what I did!!! I froze, my heart stopped, and fear set in.

Of course we immediately checked the chairs and the truck, to no avail. I wanted to drive right back down to the shore (exhausted, in the dark), but my amazing husband, Hector, who was miraculously calm and had a clear head through this entire debacle, spoke to reason, saying, “It’s just a thing. It can be replaced. We have insurance. It’s not like someone was hurt or died.” (Btw, when I pointed out to him how amazing he was being, and he said that I’d do the same for him, I said, “No, I wouldn’t! I’d be freaking out at you!!” … Can I just say, I am such a lucky girl.)

The next day, my Aunt Barbara went to the beach to look, and spoke with the lifeguards, but with no luck. I called Margate Police and Margate Public Works, to leave my contact info, just in case someone turned them in. Then I borrowed my friend Susan’s metal detector, and went down yesterday with my son at 6:30 am to hunt for myself. I had no hope, but I wouldn’t be able to live with myself if I didn’t at least try. I swear we even looked where they were ultimately found! But after looking for two hours, the best decision I made was asking for help.

I am so thankful everything turned out okay. I am still in a state of disbelief!! Thanks again to everyone for your thoughts, prayers, suggestions, ideas, and support. A special and humongous thank you to my son, for sacrificing the hockey practice that he really looks forward to, and to Dave Milsted, the metaldetectingman.com for working so methodically for over two hours, and saving the day (and to John Hill for heavily encouraging us to give him a call)!!

I recently received a text from a nice woman, we will call her Betty in nearby Medford. She explained that her husband lost his wedding ring in their yard. She also stated that she was heartbroken. She found me by doing a search for metal detectors, she was going to rent one, but found the Ring Finders instead.

She described it as a plain white gold thin wedding band.

We made arrangements to search 2 days later. I arrived and looked over the area, lots of trees, shrubs and leaves. This could be a long hunt due to the size of the property.

I started a grid search and immediately found the underground sprinkler system. Other than that, there were no signals in the area. About 20 minutes into the search I got a good signal. I looked down and could see the ring through the grass.

I started to take a picture of the location and the ring when Betty came over to see what I was doing. I picked up the ring and held it out for her. Tears streamed from her eyes. I also received several hugs.

Another successful search. If you ever lose anything metal, don’t waste your time trying to rent a metal detector. It takes years to learn how to use one properly, especially if you are looking for jewelry. I can search in shallow water, sand, dirt and grass. Need a property marker found? Give me a call.

This time of year I am very busy at the beaches looking for lost items for clients. But I recently received an email from Brandon stating his wife lost a ring in their back yard. He was local so it wouldn’t be the normal hour plus ride to the shore.

I started asking the normal questions: What is the ring made of? Is there metal objects in the yard? How did it happen? And so on. I got answers to all of the questions except how did it happen. So I asked again. He said I’ll tell you the real story, not the one we are telling family and friends. I said stop, let me guess, there was an argument and the ring was tossed.

There was a pause, and he said how did you know? I said that it happens a lot more than you think. We made arrangements for me to come out on the weekend. He emailed me throughout the week asking how confidant I was that I could find it. I kept reassuring him that the odds were really good.

We met on a Saturday morning. He showed me the area that he thought that the ring was in. Boy the yard was big. I had him recreate the incident. He stated that the ring wasn’t here, he had bought a $50 metal detector and all it did was beep constantly. He took it back and bought a $150 metal detector. It did the same thing. He then spent several hours of everyday for a week on his hands and knees looking through the grass.

I went to my truck to get my gear ready for the search. Good thing I bring more than 1 detector with me. My CTX3030 with a 10 inch coil was my choice to start. Well I left the battery at home in the charger. OK a quick call to my wife to see if she could bring the battery out. She couldn’t for about 30-60 minutes. OK I guess I will be using my Minelab Explorer with a 3 inch coil. Wow this will make it much more difficult with the size of the area that will need to be covered.

I started the search. I now see why both of the detectors that Brandon bought were constantly beeping, a lot of buried iron. He let me scan over the wedding band made of the same material. I now had the correct tone & number id’s to help weed through all of the iron. I worked a grid pattern.

As I worked the grid pattern I came to an area that he was pulling grass and weeds. He placed them into a large plastic bag. I moved the bag and got the tone I was listening for. I looked under the grass and there was the missing ring, partially submerged into the dirt. It looks like it might have been stepped on to push it into the ground like that. It took less than 30 minutes to make the find.

I was amazed that I found it with my baby coil in such a large area. I quickly called my wife to tell her that I didn’t need the battery. She hadn’t left yet.

Brandon was totally amazed that I found it. He said that he concentrated his search in that area and missed it multiple times. The look on his face was priceless. He is totally out of the dog house now.

I can’t stress it enough. If you lose something don’t waste your time and money buying or renting a metal detector. It takes years to learn how to properly use them. Call a professional.

Many of you know that I have pulled off some epic April Fool’s Pranks on my birthday. This is not one of them, this is a true story!

Joe contacted me 2 weeks ago. He thinks he lost his ring in his yard while raking leaves in the fall. He said that this isn’t the 1^st time he has lost his ring. It is the 5^th time and I found it for him several years ago. That time he also lost it while doing yard work.

He said he would be home on Friday & I had some free time, so I headed over. The last time I found it within 10 minutes. I noticed that the yard has changed. The back yard has a metal fence, not good. Plus, there is a large garden in the middle of the yard that also has a metal fence around it.

Joe stated that he bought a $150 metal detector. He has been trying to look for it, but the machine is always beeping. So he thought it was time to reach out again.

Joe showed me what he was doing that fateful day. I started searching in the areas that he thought that he lost it. All of those spots were near the fences. I brought multiple machines and lowered the sensitivity really low, but the fences are just to overpowering to my metal detectors.

I moved to other areas of the yard. I searched out front where he said he piled the leaves for the township. I was hoping that the leaf machine didn’t get his platinum wedding band. After 2.5 hours of searching I had to leave, I had another appointment.

Our schedules wouldn’t line up till 1 week later on April Fool’s Day. After leaving work at 8:30 am and getting my equipment. I called Joe to make sure we were still on. He said that he completely forgot. He had made an 11am appointment to get a newer car. He said that I could come over to look even if he wasn’t there. I told him that I would be there in 20 minutes.

Joe was out back moving some of the tomato cages out of the way in hopes that he lost it in the garden while he was dumping leaves. I did a quick search and I couldn’t get close to the edges because of the fence. It wasn’t in the rest of the garden.

I only had a small area in the back yard that I didn’t finish the last time that I was here. SO I detected that. No ring. I got another machine with a 3-inch coil to try to get closer to the fences. No luck. I’m getting frustrated and getting ready to give up. I really wanted to find this ring, AGAIN. Joe would be my 1^st repeat customer and 1^st successful repeat customer.

I saw a rake in the garden and decided to rake all around the fence at the garden, both inside and out. I did it twice. The second time around I was down to the dirt. I moved some more dirt & leaves and there was a platinum ring right up against the fence.

I took a few pictures and went to the house to show Joe. He couldn’t believe it. He was so excited; his expression was better than the first time that I had found his ring. He asked if he could hug me. We hugged. He said that his wife isn’t going to believe this. I suggested that he puts it on a chain or gets a replacement that fits. He said that he would look into it. I also told him that I had a good feeling about finding it today since it is my birthday.

He now has my magnetic business card on his refrigerator for next time. I said it better be for a referral.

The day after our 22 inch snow storm, I received an email from Paul. He wanted to know if my metal detector could find his keys in the snow. He thinks that he lost them while he was shoveling. I told him that yes I should be able to find his keys. This was 6:30 at night.

He wanted to know when I could get there. I told him that I had to work the next 2 days so Wednesday would be the earliest. He asked if there was anyway I could come out later that night. His wife was very worried about someone finding the keys and having access to the house and/or cars. Paul said that he was out right now but would be home around 8pm.

A few weeks late but here is my last successful ring recovery of 2015!

I received an email from a newlywed couple saying that the husband lost his wedding ring in the back yard while raking leaves and playing with some kids. They found me through a referral from the internet.

We set up a day to meet for me to hunt. Turns out they live on the next street over from me, we’re neighbors.

We met on a Sunday afternoon, and they showed me the area that he believed that he lost it. The far back of the yard near a tire swing. They left me to hunt as they had things to do in the house since it was getting near Christmas.

As I started to search the area I was getting a lot of iron signals. The area this house is in was in the same general area where there was a stage coach stop for people traveling from Philly to the shore in the 1700 & 1800’s. I had to turn down the gain on my machine a lot to make it stable.

I searched the area for about a half an hour with no luck. I then decided to expand my search area. Most people think they lost their item when the notice it missing, but a lot of times it isn’t even close to where they lost it.

After about another 15 minutes I get a very good signal in my headphones. I separate the thick grass and there is a white gold ring. The inscription inside is “Duet – The Way You Are”.

I go up to the house and knock. They look disappointed. When they opened the door they said I guess you are giving up. I asked them if the ring had an inscription. They said yes and told me what it was. I then said I guess this belongs to you then, and opened my hand with the ring inside.

The were so amazed that it had been found. I get more hugs from strangers after finding items, then I get from my family. They had already inquired at a local jeweler about a replacement. We took some pictures and they asked me about some of my stories that are on my website.

2015 was a very good year for me returning lost items. I am hoping for a better 2016!! Thanks for taking the time to read my adventures.

What is that Brittney Spears song? Oops I Did It Again

My wife received a message from a friend who has been reading some of my recovery stories. Apparently her mom, who passed away late last year, lost a gold ring about this time last year. Her mom insisted that it was lost near the driveway at her house. She asked if I could look for it.

I am always up for a new search. I had some time to spare this week so I got the address for her dad’s house and packed my truck with 3 detectors and assorted other necessities.

A post from Denise:

If you don’t believe in miracles then read this!!! I appreciate
Dave finding it more than he’ll ever know. It’s an only child ring – my stone is in the middle and my parents’ stone on either side then my mom added each of the boys’ stones. I want her to be buried with it but I guess she wanted me to have it.

I got a call Dec 9, 2013 from a man who said he lost his gold wedding ring in the snow yesterday (6-8 inches of fluffy white stuff). I told him that I would love to help but my truck was in the shop. I said I could come tomorrow. He said he had to work all day. I told him that I would come up tonight around 6pm, a night hunt…

When I arrived we went over the details of what he could remember. He took his new bride, from India, out to play in her 1st snow that she has ever seen. They were just married in May in India. He was taking pictures and they were having fun playing in the snow. Snow angles and all.

He said they stopped in like 4 areas to take pictures. He had the ring on at the first stop and it was gone at the last stop, noticed by reviewing the pictures. He didn’t realize till this morning that the ring was gone. The whole walk might have been 3/4 of a mile.

I went and got my machine. We started in the area that they took the 1st set of pictures. I quickly got a signal that was in the gold range on my machine. I kicked the snow aside, and you could see he was very excited. We didn’t see any gold & I had to explain the machine will make a lot of sounds during our hunt.

I continued on and then doubled back, starting a small grid pattern. Within 2 minutes we had another promising sound. I kicked the snow aside and we both saw gold. A total of five minutes of detecting & we had the ring. The look on his face was priceless. He couldn’t believe it. He said that he thought the ring was gone forever.

We went back to his apartment & he invited me in to look at the pictures he took yesterday. I am glad that I was able to find his ring. I wasn’t very confident after hearing how far of a walk they took. But by playing detective and starting where he knew he had the ring paid off!!