History Main / SpiesInAVan

* The short story "The Van on Atlantic Street" by Desmond Warzel is an example of this, though it's unclear throughout exactly who they're spying on, or, for that matter, who they're spying ''for''.

* In the Korean film ''Film/SteelRain''. After seeing off the local intelligence chiefs of both China and Japan, the protagonist sees the CIA's station head waving to him next to a truck with a garish American burger advertisement on the side. Turns out it's her MobileBase.

-->-- '''Gib''', ''Film/TrueLies''

* In ''VideoGame/HitmanBloodMoney'', one of these vans is used by FBI agents to control and monitor their witness protection efforts. Spiking doughnuts meant for the agents there with sedatives or poison is probably the best way to get an FBI agent suit in this level.

Next, we'll need a van or truck. The vehicle selected will need to provide sufficient space for the spies to do their job, have relatively few windows or none at all in the cargo compartment, and be reasonably maneuverable, high-speed, and, most importantly, ''nondescript''. Of course, it doesn't ''have'' to be a van or even a traditional land vehicle for that matter. After all, surveillance equipment can also be placed in a travel trailer, tractor trailer, boat, aircraft, or spacecraft. It's just that vans tend to look more... ordinary. The van is often camouflaged with a fake business logo (telecoms, electrical contractors or plumbers); in comedies this is often a PaperThinDisguise PlayedForLaughs.

Next, we'll need a van or truck (on some occasions, with trucks, we'll also need a trailer). The vehicle selected will need to provide sufficient space for the spies to do their job, have relatively few windows or none at all in the cargo compartment, and be reasonably maneuverable, high-speed, and, most importantly, ''nondescript''. Of course, it doesn't ''have'' to be a van or even a traditional land vehicle for that matter. After all, surveillance equipment can also be placed in a tractor trailer, boat, aircraft, or spacecraft. It's just that vans tend to look more... ordinary. The van is often camouflaged with a fake business logo (telecoms, electrical contractors or plumbers); in comedies this is often a PaperThinDisguise PlayedForLaughs.

Next, we'll need a van or truck (on some occasions, with trucks, a trailer has to be employed). The vehicle selected will need to provide sufficient space for the spies to do their job, have relatively few windows or none at all in the cargo compartment, and be reasonably maneuverable, high-speed, and, most importantly, ''nondescript''. Of course, it doesn't ''have'' to be a van or even a traditional land vehicle for that matter. After all, surveillance equipment can also be placed in a tractor trailer, boat, aircraft, or spacecraft. It's just that vans tend to look more... ordinary. The van is often camouflaged with a fake business logo (telecoms, electrical contractors or plumbers); in comedies this is often a PaperThinDisguise PlayedForLaughs.

Next, we'll need a van or truck. The vehicle selected will need to provide sufficient space for the spies to do their job, have relatively few windows or none at all in the cargo compartment, and be reasonably maneuverable, high-speed, and, most importantly, ''nondescript''. Of course, it doesn't ''have'' to be a van or even a traditional land vehicle for that matter. After all, surveillance equipment can also be placed in a tractor trailer, boat, aircraft, or spacecraft. It's just that vans tend to look more... ordinary. The van is often camouflaged with a fake business logo (telecoms, electrical contractors or plumbers); in comedies this is often a PaperThinDisguise PlayedForLaughs.

Regardless of its exact form, enclosing the operation in a vehicle has several advantages. First, it allows TheStakeout to move, often following a specific individual, without having to pack up the equipment. If the people getting surveilled get suspicious and approach the van, the van can leave. The van can tail or pursue a person of interest, or be used to kidnap them. The van can serve as MissionControl as well. In a pinch, the van can be used as a getaway car, safehouse, or emergency headquarters should the ElaborateUndergroundBase be compromised. The communications staff in the van are not the pointy end of the organization's stick, but in a pinch they can be pressed into action.

Welcome to the inside of the TVtropes van. Your headphones are on the left. Just watch the screen in front of you...

Subtrope of TheStakeout.

Welcome to the inside.

First, we'll need some spies. They can be highly skilled police detectives or spy agency communications experts or [[PoliceAreUseless bumbling local beat cops]]. It may be played straight in a serious spy thriller or when the scene is used as an InfoDump to further the plot (when the spies learn the secret plan). It may also be used to provide comedic relief, if the communications team are bumbling fools. The spies will work for the law enforcement organization or a slightly corrupt but well-intentioned {{AntiHero}}ic GovernmentAgencyOfFiction. A sophisticated BigBad will often have these too. Sometimes it's operated by a much smaller organization, such as a private detective or a pair of crooks planning TheCaper.

Next, we'll need a van or truck. The vehicle selected will need to provide sufficient space for the spies to do their job, have relatively few windows or none at all in the cab, and be reasonably maneuverable, high-speed, and, most importantly, ''nondescript''. Of course, it doesn't ''have'' to be a van or even a traditional land vehicle for that matter. After all, surveillance equipment can also be placed in a tractor trailer, boat, aircraft, or spacecraft. It's just that vans tend to look more... ordinary. The van is often camouflaged with a fake business logo (telecoms, electrical contractors or plumbers); in comedies this is often a PaperThinDisguise PlayedForLaughs.

Regardless of its exact form, enclosing the operation in a vehicle has several advantages. First, it allows TheStakeout to move, often following a specific individual, without having to pack up the equipment. The van can tail or pursue a person of interest, or be used to kidnap them. The van can serve as MissionControl as well. In a pinch, the van can be used as a getaway car, safehouse, or emergency headquarters should the ElaborateUndergroundBase be compromised. The communications staff in the van are not the pointy end of the organization's stick, but in a pinch they can be pressed into action.

First, we'll need some spies. They can be highly skilled police detectives or bumbling idiots. What we're looking for is the ability to further the plot or provide comedy relief as required by the writers. The spies will work for the organization. Most often, it's a slightly corrupt but well-intentioned {{AntiHero}}ic GovernmentAgencyOfFiction that uses this tactic, but the BigBad will often have these too. Sometimes it's operated by a much smaller organization, such as a private detective or a pair of crooks planning TheCaper.

Next, we'll need a van. The vehicle selected will need to provide sufficient space for the spies to do their job, have relatively few windows, and be reasonably maneuverable, high-speed, and, most importantly, ''nondescript''. Of course, it doesn't ''have'' to be a van or even a traditional land vehicle for that matter. After all, surveillance equipment can also be placed in a tractor trailer, boat, aircraft, or spacecraft. It's just that vans tend to look more... ordinary. The van is often, if not usually, camouflaged with a fake business logo (telecoms, electrical contractors or plumbers); in comedies this is often a PaperThinDisguise PlayedForLaughs.

Regardless of its exact form, enclosing the operation in a vehicle has several advantages. First, it allows TheStakeout to move, often following a specific individual, without having to pack up the equipment. The van can tail or pursue a person of interest, or be used to kidnap them. The van can serve as MissionControl as well. In a pinch, the van can be used as a getaway car, safehouse, or emergency headquarters should the ElaborateUndergroundBase be compromised.

** The FBI themselves have a fairly obvious van as well.

** In the episode "Two Horse Job", Parker and Hardison are using a van to carry out surveillance on Sterling.

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* ''Recap/TheSimpsonsS3E4BartTheMurderer'' has Marge comment about it taking two weeks to deliver a pizza, which is overheard and causes the van to flee. A minute later, another causal van arrives, '''F'''lowers '''B'''y '''I'''rene.

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* In ''[[VideoGame/IExpectYouToDie I Expect You To Die 2: The Spy and the Liar]]'', your base of operations is a van in order to maintain the agent's KIA status and keep [[EvilInc Zoraxis Industries]] from finding out you're still alive after the end of the previous game.

* ''Series/{{NCIS}}'' does this a lot. Usually with McGee in the van.

* In ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer'': The Trio set up a stake-out van to monitor Buffy's activities and coordinate their attacks. There is a brief dispute over whether the very conspicuous Death Star decal added by Andrew really is appropriate on a vehicle that's supposed to be low-key.

* ''Series/{{NCIS}}'' does this a lot. Usually with [[HollywoodNerd McGee]] in the van.

Next, we'll need a van. The vehicle selected will need to provide sufficient space for the spies to do their job, have relatively few windows, and be reasonably maneuverable, high-speed, and, most importantly, ''nondescript''. Of course, it doesn't ''have'' to be a van or even a traditional land vehicle for that matter. After all, surveillance equipment can also be placed in a tractor trailor, boat, aircraft, or spacecraft. It's just that vans tend to look more... ordinary. The van is often, if not usually, camouflaged with a fake business logo (telecoms, electrical contractors or plumbers); in comedies this is often a PaperThinDisguise PlayedForLaughs.

** In "Servant With Two Masters", Bodie has to follow his boss Cowley around without him noticing, so he uses a minivan that looks different from the usual fast cars he likes to drive. It comes in handy when our heroes have to stash several BoundAndGagged minions in the back.