Having the phone returned has given Dayna Ritchie hope that the other items pertaining to her son, Reef, may be found.

Dayna Ritchie says she is lost for words after her cell phone with photos of her baby boy who died last year was found in south Auckland.

Police confirmed they recovered the phone today and are speaking with a 17-year-old Mangere girl in relation to the theft.

Ritchie had her handbag stolen at Auckland Airport last Friday.

The bag had her phone, wallet, passport and several crystal necklaces inside, as well as a toy car that belonged to her son Reef.

The wallet and passport were found dumped in a bin in Mangere on Sunday before police recovered the phone in Mangere today.

Ritchie said having the phone returned was an amazing feeling and gave her hope that the other items may be found.

"I don't even know what to say at the moment. I'm still a bit blown away. If I can get the photos back that would mean everything to me."

An Auckland Airport police spokeswoman said a phone that is of interest to the investigation was recovered today, though it had not yet been given back to Ritchie.

The 17-year-old girl was being spoken to and her immediate family were assisting Police with inquiries, she said.

There have not yet been any charges laid.

Since the theft on Friday more than 40,000 people have viewed the Facebook page Reef's Journey, while hundreds of people had spread the word online and in person about the missing items, Ritchie said.

"There's just been so many special people, just really amazing people of this country."

Baby Reef passed away last September from a rare bone marrow disease, aged 19 months.

Anyone with information about the other stolen items can contact Auckland Police or email Ritchie at dayna.ritchie@hotmail.com.