Among newer cars, thieves love Cadillac Escalade

Kevin Lyons

Among cars made since 2008, the Cadillac Escalade is the most targeted vehicle among thieves, with claims filed on nearly 11 of every 1,000 insured Escalades, according to an analysis of auto insurance claims by the Highway Loss Data Institute.

“The Escalade has pop-culture appeal, it’s a vehicle that sports stars drive and it’s featured in music videos,” says Russ Rader, a spokesman for the institute. “It’s the ’59 Eldorado of its time – the thieves are looking for the bling, and they are looking for horsepower.”

Theft claims include car thefts as well as items stolen from vehicles. The average loss payment for claim for an Escalade is $10,555, according to the institute. Among cars made since 2008, the Ford F-250 crew cab (four-wheel drive) was the second most targeted vehicle among thieves, with 9.7 claims filed per 1,000 vehicles, followed by the Chevrolet Silverado 1500 crew cab (9.2 claims per 1,000 vehicle).

The Highway Loss Data Institute looked only at cars made since 2008 and only vehicles that were insured.

The institute’s report differs from an annual report released by the National Insurance Crime Bureau that tallies all cars stolen in a year’s time. In its most recent study, the insurance bureau reported the 1994 Honda Accord was the most stolen car in 2010.

The Highway Loss Data Institute’s report also looked at the least targeted cars among thieves. The Audi A6 (four-wheel drive) and the Mercury Mariner each had 0.5 claims per 1,000 insured vehicles, putting them at the bottom of thieves’ list.