People can't believe a woman recovered her phone after it was stolen abroad and hidden in an ususal spot.

German woman Maia sadly was subject to such a theft while holidaying in Thailand recently. People cannot believe what happened after she shared a clip on TikTok.

Maia, has raked in over 18 million views after she said: "That time my phone got stolen in Thailand and this is how I found it again."

The clip shows Maia crouching in a wooded area, surrounding by crawling insects, as she peels away layers of leaves that had been wrapped around her missing phone.

Often, people can find their missing phones by using 'Find My' phone tracking apps which leads them directly to its location. Maia could not believe where she found her device. "A story I will never understand," she added.

While hiding a phone in leaves is an unusual tactic, it is possible that it was used as a temporary concealment tactic to stop detection after it has been stolen. Commenting on the post, one shocked individual said: "How does it still have a battery?"

One individual guessed why the theives hid the phone in leaves, and said: "It looks like they were preventing it from getting wet?? Those leaves are super water resistant along with banana leaves. My guess is they were coming back for it."

Another commented: "They thought wrapping it like that won't locate the phone."

Meanwhile, another added: "I've seen this at concerts, they steal your phone and wrap it in tin foil, tape, etc so you can’t hear it ring. I’m guessing you found the drop point that someone was going to pick it up at."

Another shared their experience and wrote: "Same thing happened to me in Costa Rica, they buried my phone under a towered restaurant….. found it hours later in a wrapped up plastic bag."

While the circumstances in the video remain unclear, the incident highlights how opportunistic theft can happen in popular holiday spots around the world. 

According to the travel guide Rough Guides, "violent crime against tourists is rare, but petty theft and scams are more common" in Thailand.

The publication also advises visitors in Thailand to "keep an eye on your belongings, be wary of deals that seem too good to be true, and don't let your guard down completely, especially in tourist hotspots".

If you loose your phone or it gets stolen, it is recommended that you report your lost phone immediately to the police. Plus enabling your 'Find My' phone setting can help, as well as changing your passwords, and calling your service provider.

Ofcom states: "Contact your provider as soon as possible, ideally within 24 hours. They can then bar your SIM to stop calls being made on your account and can also stop anyone else from using your phone by blocking its IMEI."