Politis

Man Travels 5,000 km to Retrieve Stolen iPhone

Published February 14, 2026, 09:27
Man Travels 5,000 km to Retrieve Stolen iPhone

A man from Germany undertook an incredible journey of 5,000 kilometers to Senegal to recover his stolen iPhone. Yassine, from Aachen, activated the device’s tracking function and discovered it was located in Africa. Initially resigned to the loss, he decided to rally his Instagram followers, promising the trip if his post received 10,000 likes. The response was overwhelming, exceeding 30,000 likes and giving him the 'green light' for the venture. Despite financial challenges, Yassine secured support and flew to Dakar. He received warnings about the area's danger but, with the help of a local resident, tracked down a mobile phone shop employee allegedly involved. The employee initially denied involvement, claiming to know the thief, but the phone’s signal betrayed him. Faced with exposure, he returned the iPhone. Yassine triumphantly returned to Germany with his phone and a significantly increased Instagram following of 86,000. This remarkable story has gone viral on social media, showcasing a man's determination to reclaim his property and the power of social networking in achieving a seemingly impossible goal.