Edward Trapper, Author at The Ring Finders

Cell Phone Recovered In Park , Forked River NJ, Recovered By Edward Trapper, NJ Ring Finder

  • from Lavallette (New Jersey, United States)

NJ ring Finder

I received a call from Bill regarding a lost cell phone at one of the local parks. He had spent the day enjoying the outdoors, but when he returned home, he realized his phone was missing. As most people know, losing a cell phone can be a nightmare — not just because of the cost, but because of all the important information, photos, and contacts stored inside.

Bill reached out to me, hoping I could help since he wasn’t in the area and had important business to take care of. I told him I’d be happy to head over and take a look. When I arrived, I started my search in the general area where he had been sitting earlier in the day.

The grass was extremely tall due to the recent stretch of rainy weather, which had delayed mowing in the park. I began my search, knowing that a phone usually sits on top of the grass but can easily disappear in tall overgrowth. After about 25 minutes of careful searching, I received a strong signal — and there it was! The phone was completely hidden in the long grass.

Luckily, I recovered it before the park staff came through with the mowers. If they had cut the grass first, the phone would have been destroyed and all his data lost — much of which wasn’t backed up to the cloud.

Another great recovery and a perfect example of why it pays to make a quick call to Edward Trapper, the NJ Ring Finder.

Lost Swing Set Bolt In Playground , Lanoka Harbor NJ, Recovered by Edward Trapper, NJ Ring Finder

  • from Lavallette (New Jersey, United States)

🔩 Specialized Playground Bolt Recovered – Cedar Creek School, Lanoka Harbor NJ

I received a call from Jamie over at Cedar Creek School regarding a lost swing set bolt. Jamie, a maintenance worker for the local school district, explained they had a work order to repair the handicap-accessible swing. Upon arriving at the site, they discovered that a critical, specialized bolt securing the front bar had vanished beneath the rubberized mulch.

He asked if I could assist, and I let him know I was just moments away. Once I arrived, Jamie pointed out the exact location of the missing hardware. Using my metal detector, I quickly scanned the area — and within minutes, the bolt was recovered. The swing was immediately repaired and made safe for student use again.

Whether it’s lost jewelry or essential equipment like this, I’m happy to help recover what matters!

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How to find a lost ring in yard debris, Princeton NJ, recovered by Edward Trapper, NJ Ring Finder

  • from Lavallette (New Jersey, United States)

I noticed a post on one of the lost jewelry pages about a missing wedding ring, lost somewhere in the backyard within a pile of yard debris. Someone had tagged me on the post, and later, Cheryl gave me a call. She explained that her husband, John, had been doing yard work, moving logs, branches, and leaves  when he realized later that day his wedding ring was missing.

John was 99% sure the ring was in the yard and had a pretty good idea of where it might be. He believed he had felt it pull off his hand when he threw some debris. I asked Cheryl to send me a short video to make sure Id be able to swing my metal detector in the dense thicket where the ring might have landed. From the video, everything looked manageable, so we arranged to meet the following morning.

When I arrived, John and Cheryl came outside to greet me. I grabbed my equipment, and we walked out to the backyard. I had John recount exactly what happened a few times to make sure I had all the details. His story on the phone matched what he told me in the backyard, which gave me confidence that the ring was out there.

I got to work right away. After quickly scanning some larger areas and checking along the back fence, I only picked up a few signals, none consistent with a platinum ring. But then, I spotted a large pile of leaves and small sticks about three feet from the back fence. It looked promising, especially since John had mentioned pulling debris with his bare hands in that spot.

I scanned over the pile and picked up a strong, steady signal. It could have been the ring, though there was a chance it was just a pull tab. I cleared an area where the signal was strongest, digging down about two feet. Sure enough, at the very bottom of the pile, I found John’s ring.

Meanwhile, John and Cheryl were chatting by the pool about yard work. I cleaned the ring off a bit, stood up, and held it high to show them. Cheryls eyes widened, and she immediately said, I can’t believe you found it already! Where was it?

They both hurried over, and I showed them the cleared area in the middle of the leaf pile. They were absolutely stunned at how quickly I had found the ring.

I explained that preparation and listening carefully to the customer are key to a successful search. Narrowing down the possible locations allows me to focus on the most likely spots first, which saves a lot of time and effort.

Finding lost items isn’t just about luck it’s about methodical searching and trusting the process.

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How to find water shutoff with a metal detector, Forked River NJ, recovered by Edward Trapper, NJ Ring Finder

  • from Lavallette (New Jersey, United States)

 

Tom asked if possibly I would be available to help locate his city water shutoff in the front yard. Years ago, he had done some landscaping, laying down landscape fabric and stones, thinking he would remember the shutoff location. Many years later, he decided to place a box with a lid over the shutoff for easy access in case of emergencies. Unfortunately he was not able to find it partially because of the roots that had grown over the entire area, making it impossible to dig.

I arrived at his house and carefully searched the area until I found the strongest, most consistent signal matching the steel iron of the shutoff valve. A nearby maple tree had sent large roots sprawling through the area, making it nearly impossible to dig. We had to use a hatchet and an axe to cut through the thick roots. Sure enough, about six inches down, we uncovered the valve.

Now, Tom can clear the space and install a commercial access box, ensuring the shutoff will always be easy to locate and use.

 

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Wedding Ring Lost Doing Yard Work, Moorestown NJ, recovered by Edward Trapper, NJ Ring Finder

  • from Lavallette (New Jersey, United States)

I received a call from Jason regarding his lost wedding ring, which he believed had come off while doing yard work. Jason explained that he had been raking leaves, dumping them at the curb, and moving between his house, garage, and yard. In between, he had also been playing ball with his son. There was even a chance the ring could have fallen through the deck boards into the leaves below.

Jason was heading out for a long weekend, and with the township potentially vacuuming up the leaves, time was of the essence. I rearranged my schedule to meet him that afternoon. When I arrived, we had about 15 minutes before Jason had an hour-long client meeting, so we quickly reviewed his activities and the specific areas he had been in. He also informed me he borrowed a detector from a friend and had no luck. He also showed me the garage, where he had removed his gloves, and the backyard, where he had been playing with his son.

After gathering my equipment, I set my machine for shallow depth, as the ring wouldn’t be far beneath the surface. I started with the leaf piles at the curb, then made quick passes through the side and front yards, but had no luck. Moving to the backyard, where the most activity had taken place, I received a promising signal on my first pass.

I cleared a few leaves and some dirt to reveal Jason’s wedding ring, just under the surface. It appeared the ring had come off when he removed his catcher’s mitt and accidentally stepped on it, pushing it slightly into the ground.

I messaged Jason immediately, and he came down before his meeting. He was amazed that the ring had been found so quickly. I explained how careful detective work to narrow down the most likely spots was key to a successful recovery. Jason was ecstatic to have his ring back, especially before leaving for his trip.

Another successful recovery!

Flagpole Receiver found with Metal Detector, Bricktown NJ, recovered by Edward Trapper, NJ Ring Finder

  • from Lavallette (New Jersey, United States)

I received a text from Jayne about a unique recovery. Two months earlier, she had removed the flagpole from her front yard but later couldn’t locate the buried receiver when she wanted to hang a special new flag. After searching extensively on her own without success, Jayne reached out for help.

I arranged to visit a few days later while in her area. When I arrived, Jayne showed me the approximate location of the receiver. I searched for about 20 minutes but didn’t have any luck. At that point, I asked her to find old photos showing the flagpole when it was still in place. Using the photos, I was able to visually mark the likely location and narrow down the search area significantly.

I adjusted my detector for maximum sensitivity and began searching again. After just a few swings, I located the receiver buried under the grass. Jayne was absolutely thrilled! She immediately grabbed her flagpole and proudly hung her new flag.

This recovery was a reminder that it’s not just jewelry or valuables I recover—items like flagpole receivers, property markers, and even sprinkler heads can be found with the right tools and techniques. If it’s metallic, there’s a good chance I can recover it!

Barnegat Light NJ, LBI, Ring recovered on the beach with Metal Detector, Recovered by Edward Trapper, NJ Ring Finder

  • from Lavallette (New Jersey, United States)

Tim was spending a sunny afternoon on a small beach along the bayside of Long Beach Island, tossing a football and enjoying time with friends. At some point, after they had finished playing, he realized his ring was missing. Everyone returned to the beach and searched for a while, but had no luck locating it in the sand. Frustrated and unsure what to do next, Tim decided to Google metal detector services, and that’s when he found my page.

He called, inquiring about the process of recovering his lost ring. I explained how it worked, and we arranged to meet at the beach shortly after. By the time I arrived, Tim was already there, eager to get started. I grabbed my machine and scoop, and we stood together while he explained the situation.

He pointed out the two main areas where they had been playing — one side of the beach near a playground, where they’d been tossing the football back and forth, and the other side where they switched after a while. There was also a slight chance it could have fallen near the water, where they had rinsed off the football, but Tim thought that was unlikely.

We began searching the first area, but all I found was a handful of trash and a few coins. After covering that section thoroughly, I moved to the other side of the beach and began tracing out a perimeter. Just a few swings into my second pass, the detector signaled that sweet low tone of gold.  I dug down and there it was — Tim’s ring safely in my scoop.

He was absolutely amazed that I found it. The wedding ring was a cherished keepsake he had worn for many decades. His relief and gratitude were clear, and it was another successful recovery on the Jersey Shore.

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Metal Detector Expert, Bay Head NJ, recovered by Edward Trapper, NJ Ring Finder

  • from Lavallette (New Jersey, United States)

Around noon, the beach was busy, with families scattered under umbrellas and kids playing in the surf. Kim had lost her ring earlier that morning, and despite hours of searching with her friends, it remained missing. The ring had slipped from her lap after she applied sunblock. They’d sifted through the sand with strainers, but no one had any luck.

That’s when she decided to call NJ Ring Finder.

When I arrived, Kim and her friends showed me the area where they’d been sitting. I set up my metal detector and began scanning the sand. The beach was noisy with distractions, but I worked methodically, moving in slow, deliberate rows. Kim stood nearby, nervously watching.

After a few minutes, the detector gave a strong, clear signal. I dug one scoop of sand without any luck, carefully scanning the spot again, I dug just a bit deeper, and sure enough, her precious ring was saved. It was nestled about 6” under the surface already, having likely fallen when she removed her cover up earlier.

I held it up, and Kim’s face lit up with relief. She slipped the ring back on and thanked me graciously . Another happy outcome, and I was glad to help.

Wedding Ring lost on the Beach, Harvey Cedars NJ, LBI, recovered by Edward Trapper, NJ Ring Finder

  • from Lavallette (New Jersey, United States)

Metal detectors for sale

Dan had placed his wedding ring in the cup holder of a beach chair while relaxing by the shore. At some point, the chair was unknowingly picked up, causing the ring to fall out and disappear into the soft Jersey Shore sand. Panic set in as Dan realized his wedding ring, a deeply sentimental piece, was missing. Wanting to recover it himself he purchased a metal detector and spent two days searching the beach, but despite his efforts, the ring remained lost.

Meanwhile, Julie, eager to help, took matters into her own hands by posting on a local Facebook page, asking for the local expert with a metal detector to come assist. The post quickly gained traction, and I was tagged multiple times as the NJ Ring Finder by people familiar with my previous successes. After two days of unsuccessful searching, Julie decided to reach out to me directly, hoping I could provide the expertise they needed.

I met Dan and Julie at the beach, where they walked me through the events leading to the ring’s disappearance. They pointed out the location where the chair had been picked up, explaining the area they believed the ring had fallen. After understanding the area, I got to work.

With my metal detector in hand, I methodically swept through the sand, focusing on the spot they had indicated. In less than 10 minutes, the detector gave off a steady signal, and I scooped up the sand to reveal Dan’s wedding ring glistening inside. Their relief and gratitude were instant and heartfelt. What had seemed like an impossible task was resolved quickly, and another precious memory was saved.

 

How to find Lost Wedding Ring with a Metal Detector, Bay Head NJ, recovered by Edward Trapper, NJ Ring Finder

  • from Lavallette (New Jersey, United States)

Pat sent me a text inquiring about recovering his lost wedding ring. He was on the beach the day before, and when they arrived home, he realized his wedding ring was missing. After going over the details, we decided I would head out right after work that day. He had some great photos that would zero me in on the spot they had set up their chairs that day. Pat was a few hours away, so we decided that the pictures and his friend’s information would be all I needed to put me on the right spot. Once I got to the beach, I headed to the area he said they were in, checked the pictures, and looked for some fixed objects his friend said he remembered seeing. Everything lined up so I began my search. After a few times back and forth, I noticed some signs of another detector being there, and my heart sank. Thats never a good thing to see while doing a recovery. Well, lucky for Pat, the other person was not to thorough, and within 10 minutes the ring was safely in my sand scoop. I took some pics and headed back to my truck. I transferred them to a text message, then called Pat. I told him I searched the entire area, and there were signs of another person in the area. You could tell by the tone in his voice, he was not happy to hear that, and then I sent pics and asked him to confirm they matched up to the location. The excitement in his voice when he saw his ring in those pics was priceless, I just wish I could have experienced that in person. We then made arrangements for him to swing by in a few days to pick up his ring.

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