Lost Item Recovery
If you’re currently in the location where you lost your item
Stay there if it’s safe, take photos of the area, and/or leave a visual marker of the suspected loss area – even if it’s a just a stick in the sand. Call or text me at (415) 968-9752 and I’ll see if I can come help right away or recommend another detectorist if I’m not available. Leave a voicemail if there is no answer. Then when you have a chance, fill out the form below as a record of your item.
If you lost your item some time ago
We will schedule a time to attempt recovery. Fill out the form below as a record of your item, and I’ll contact you to schedule a time to search.
Send a Lost Item Recovery Request
How does the process work?
The Basics
I metal detect on a volunteer basis within Marin County, California or within a reasonable distance. If there are circumstances that make the journey and/or search difficult or costly for me (park fees, long drive, etc.) we will discuss that in advance. If you’d like to offer compensation or a reward, I will not refuse your generosity, but it is not required.
How will the search begin?
We start with a conversation. I will ask you to recreate the scene and provide details about how you lost the item. I’ll want to know when you noticed it was missing, and about where you think it could be. The narrower we can get the search area, the more likely it will be to find.
How does a metal detector work?
A metal detector transmits an electromagnetic field from the round or oval-shaped coil into the ground. Any metal objects (we call them targets) within the field re-transmit an electromagnetic field of their own. The detector’s coil receives the re-transmitted field and produces a response like a sound and/or information on a screen. The more I know about your item – metal composition, size, shape – the easier I can narrow my search to your lost item. Metal detectors do not function like magnets. And remember, not all metals are magnetic, so a magnet will not always be helpful for finding lost items.
Advice:
- Triple check in all reasonable and unreasonable places your item may be – pockets, under car seats, trash cans, bags, and even the refrigerator. Items can end up in strange places!
- If your item is valuable (over $100 in value) report the loss to the nearest local police station and to any parks department or grounds crews, etc.
- Check for posts on sites like Nextdoor, Craigslist, and Lost & Found pages on Facebook. Someone may have found your item and are trying to find the owner.
- Do not post about your lost item on these or other websites with details about where it was lost. Unfortunately, not everyone is honest and may try to find your item without returning it.
- Metal detectors have their limits – when we discuss your situation, I’ll give you an honest idea of the likelihood of success. Sometimes items are damaged when they are lost. During the search, I will also do my best to protect your item so that no further damage occurs.
About me
I help people find lost items of many kinds!
Around age 10 I started metal detecting in my own backyard. As I grew up, I considered myself a hobbyist, and now have many years of experience using my metal detector in different types of terrain and recovering items for others. I have returned lost items to people in Chicago, Miami, and the San Francisco Bay Area.
In 2022, I founded the Bay Area Metal Detecting Association (BAMDA), which brings together hobbyists and recovery specialists from all over the San Francisco Bay Area.
If you’ve lost something in the San Francisco bay area, I or one of my BAMDA members can probably help you pretty quickly! Reach out using my contact form on this page and let me know where and when you lost the item and I’ll see if we can help.
I am listed on The RingFinders
RingFinders is an international directory of metal detectorists (like me)! The goal of the RingFinders service is to “help people find their lost jewelry at beaches, parks, lakes and yards all around the world.” It doesn’t have to be a ring, but when you really need to find it, there are independent metal detectorists like me that can help you. If I am not available to help, I can direct you to a metal detectorist in the area.