How an aspiring IT expert found her stolen phone using tracking technology

As the young woman was sitting on a bus near Ofankor Barrier on her way back from work, Kirlin's phone was snatched by two motorcycle-riding thieves, disappearing into the night. Initially, it seemed like she had lost her cherished android device for good. However, as an aspiring IT expert, Kirlin was not one to give up easily.

A glimmer of hope emerged through Google Maps' location-sharing feature, which Kirlin had been using. Together with her friend, Felix Antwi Oppong, they formulated a plan to track down the stolen phone. The thieves hadn't turned the location sharing feature off, and the location remained active.

The theft victim and her friend continued to monitor the phone's location, which led them to a spot near a local pub known as Mama Zimbi, not far from the Lebanon Police Station in Ashiaman. With the help of a young police woman from Pokuase, Aisha Dodoo, she was put in touch with local Police Officers Josua Addo and James Tetteh, who engaged in the search for the phone. Despite their concerted efforts, the thieves remained elusive.

However, Google Maps consistently directed them to an unusual house adjacent to the pub.

The house lacked a protective wall, and its windows were curiously concealed with black polythene—a suspicious sight indeed.

Felix connected his laptop to his hotspot, accessed Google's Find My Device page, and initiated a call to Kirlin's phone, even though it was on silent mode. The sound emanated from the left window of the peculiar house in the middle of the night.

As Detective Chief Inspector Frederick Yeboah and Officer Emmanuel Geraldo arrived, they entered the house and uncovered several stolen phones, including Kirlin's. The perpetrator was apprehended and escorted to the police station.

This account underscores the potency of technology, specifically Google Maps' location-sharing feature. It enabled Kirlin and Felix to track the stolen phone, recover it, and bring the criminals to justice. It serves as a stark reminder that ICT proficiency and device tracking can aid in solving crimes and surmounting adversity. Although it is a coincidence that Kirlin Mensah teaches such technology to teenagers at the Dodoo Coding Club in Pokuase, it is a valuable lesson for all Ghanaians that equipped with the right technology, normal citizens and the police and jointly solve crimes and bring the perpetrators to justice.

This is a story based on Kirlin Mensah's narration.