Saugus couple hopes to celebrate anniversary with the return of husband’s ring

SAUGUS – Martin Rivera feels strange – his ring finger is exposed for the first time in almost 24 years.

“It’s not that tight; if it was tighter I’d have that ring (notch) there. I don’t have that though,” he explained.

And that’s part of the problem; the somewhat roomy ring appears to have slipped into Wegman’s air-conditioned as he was running errands at work on Tuesday.

“Yesterday was also a bit busy. Customers were constantly coming in and out. I have no idea who it was or whose bag I was in. Somehow it slipped off my finger,” said Martin.

It is therefore possible that a customer went home with more than was on his shopping list. This is said to have happened sometime between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. Tuesday at the Medford store on Mystic Valley Parkway.

Wife Karen’s ring has the same design, and neighbors north of Boston are sharing her photo all over social media. The Saugus couple have hope, encouraged by so many strangers willing to help.

“Even a Medford police officer saw it and said, ‘I’ll go to the police station and see if it’s issued there too,'” Karen said.

With their August anniversary just weeks away, the couple’s fingers are crossed — their treasure could end up in someone’s trash can or reusable bag.

“You know, you take out your groceries and when they’re done you don’t look for anything else. You just fold the bag and put it away. I hope that’s what happened,” added Martin.