do we have any anti-theft features applicable on this project, a way that my data will be secure and I can retrieve/find my phone from anywhere? There were scripts that would trigger ssh to send a text to an alternative number but, that might not suffice that need since if someone flashes the phone, it means ssh is gone too?

Perhaps there is way out to enhance security and recovery, maybe sthin that won't be flashed or locks the handset from being flashed?