Don’t Let a Thief Ruin Your Vacation – Secure Your Phone Before You Travel

As the summer vacation and travel season kicks in, Bahrain’s General Directorate of Anti-Corruption, Economic and Electronic Security has launched a new awareness campaign warning the public about a noticeable rise in smartphone thefts, especially in busy public areas.

The authorities are urging everyone to take extra care, stressing that losing a phone today means more than just losing the device — it also puts your private data at risk, which could be misused.

They explained that smartphones have become prime targets for thieves, not just for their monetary value, but because they store sensitive personal information. If stolen, this data could be exploited in harmful and illegal ways.

To help people protect their devices, especially iPhones, the Directorate recommends adjusting certain security settings. One of the key tips is to disable access to the “Control Center” and prevent enabling “Airplane Mode” from the lock screen — this helps keep the device traceable if it’s stolen.

They’ve shared a few simple steps to boost phone security:

• Go to your device settings

• Enable Face ID or a strong passcode

• Restrict lock screen access to Control Center

• Turn on “Find My iPhone”

• Activate the “Send Last Location” feature

These steps make it harder for thieves to use or hide the stolen phone, and they increase the chances of tracking and recovering it.

Authorities are calling on both citizens and residents to remain alert and not ignore these protective measures, especially while traveling or moving through crowded spaces.

In case of theft or suspicious activity, people are encouraged to report immediately by calling the hotline: 992.