One good Bus/Vanagon security tipfor back-country or Mexico/South America
trips is to (1) take metal wire cable and tie the two front doors together
from the inside through the interior door handles with a padlock and (2)
remove the sliding door lock knob on the inside (unscrew it and place it
somewhere hidden).  This solution doesn't make a loud sound for intruders,
but it stops banditos in a hurry from hauling too much of your crap out the
front doors if they don't know how to jigger the sliding door mechanism
without an unlock knob.  I've found it to be very effective and have heard
the same from others taking their VWs into some pretty sketchy North
American areas...

-Blake
'84 Westy Wolfsburg 2.1

----Original Message Follows----
From: Maggie Dew <wildebus@GMAIL.COM>
Reply-To: Maggie Dew <wildebus@GMAIL.COM>
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Alarm system, was Bus story
Date: Thu, 25 Jan 2007 06:51:02 -0700

I have a problem with alarm systems as they currently exist.  I can't stand
them!  If it is designed to "scare the hell out of an intruder" then it will
also scare the hell out of the neighbors, bystanders, etc., every time it
accidentally goes off.  How many times have you heard a car alarm go off and
thought "burglar"?  No, you think "bozo should shut that damn thing off".
Right?  Aren't there some more creative ways to dissuade someone from
ganking your ride?

Years ago, when I couldn't stand being jolted out of bed by an alarm clock,
I found one that flashed a light instead of sounding an alarm.  How about an
alarm that flashed bright red and/or yellow lights?  Wouldn't bother the
neighbors, but might make a burglar run away?  Or an alarm that alerted you
wihout alerting everyone else within a two-mile radius?  Surely there are
some innovations out there?

Maggie
'85 Subaru Westy "Anne Bonney"
(sporting a new pair of shoes - Michelin LTX M/S - for all those at BBB who
insisted it was time!)

Date:    Wed, 24 Jan 2007 19:27:49 -0800
From:    Loren Busch <starwagen@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Bus story

While on this subject, anyone have a recommendations on alarm systems?
Criteria: Reasonable price, easy to install, scare the hell out of an
intruder.