1. We tinted the windows on the van

-This not only made it difficult to look into the van, it also provided necessary shade from the glaring sun. We had it done at Speedy Auto Glass in North Vancouver, at a cost of $395.

2. We installed a small electronic safe under the back bench seat

-We went with a "ST-12D Drawer Safe" from West Coast Mobile Locksmiths in Vancouver. It cost $256 installed (under the back bench seat) and was big enough to hold our passports, spare cash and credit cards, key paperwork, cameras and I-Pods.

3. We used a Club on the steering wheel

-A good visual deterrent, if nothing else.

4. We installed a flashing fake alarm light

-Another good visual deterrent and costs less than $20 bucks.

5. We brought Adrienne

-Being a female, she made sure we made smart decisions about where we parked the van and where we camped for the night.

Not worth it:

We had been told that locking wheel nuts were a useful security measure. and we spent the part of an afternoon in San Diego, on the way down, looking for them. After much searching, we found some that fit our back tires (and only our back tires) at 4 Wheel Parts Performance Centers in El Cajon.

In hindsight, the wheel locks were probably unnecessary because:

1. compared to the tires on some of the pimped out SUV's and other vehicles in Mexico and Central America, the van tires just weren't that attractive; and

2. a mechanic who worked on the van in Barra de Navidad, Mexico was able to pop the tires off in about 12 seconds, finding no need to first deal with the wheel locks.