The Cadillac Escalade EXT tops the lost of stolen vehicles, according to a new report.
Bling, bling…gone.
For the fourth year in a row, the big Cadillac Escalade, a favorite among rappers and professional athletes, tops the list as the car more likely to be stolen, according to a new report by the Highway Loss Data Institute.
The trade group’s data show that four different versions of the Escalade rank high on the list of 2008 to 2010 vehicles thieves targeted, with the Cadillac Escalade EXT, an SUV/pickup blend, ranking at the top of the list. On average, it experienced 14 claims per 1,000 registered vehicles – eight times higher than the average vehicle covered by the study. Overall, theft claims for the Escalade resulted in average insurance payouts of $10,555.
The HLDI study reveals that Detroit brands top the theft charts – and that thieves seem to prefer pickups and SUVs. In fact, eight of the top 10 are either General Motors or Ford trucks. The other two slots were filled by Chrysler, with two versions of its big 300 sedan.
When all vehicles, not just newer models, are included, the 1994 Honda Accord topped the list of most-stolen automobiles last year.
The news was clearly an embarrassment for the Detroit makers, who have responded that they are taking steps to reduce theft.
“We are currently implementing four new pieces of ‘armor’ on Escalade intended to reduce vehicle thefts, particularly those called push away,” said Bill Biondo, director of GM’s vehicle theft prevention program. “We are committed to beating the thieves and expect these new theft deterrent systems to greatly reduce the Escalade’s rate of theft and lower its position on HLDI’s list.”
While domestic pickups and SUVs lead the list of most-stolen late-model vehicles, they still lag behind some imports in overall thefts. A separate report by the National Insurance Crime Bureau, earlier in the month, revealed that the 1994 Honda Accord was the vehicle most likely to be stolen last year – the third year in a row the sedan led the NICB “Hot Wheels” list.
It was followed by the 1995 Honda Civic and 1991 Toyota Camry. But a number of domestic models, including the 1999 Chevrolet Silverado and 2002 Ford Explorer, were in the top 10. (Click Here for that report.)
The new report from the Highway Loss Data Institute includes not only stolen vehicles but also adds break-ins to its tally. That helps explain why models like the Ford Super Duty Pickup was on the list, as such vehicles often transport tools to work sites. Ford says it has been adding more lockable storage areas to prevent such problems.
While thefts remain a serious problem, the HLDI and NICB reports agree on one critical factor: car thefts are, on the whole, on a long and relatively steady decline. That appears to reflect both increased enforcement efforts and the use of new technologies that make it harder for thieves to do their work. Experts suggest that car thieves prefer to work fast and if they can’t they will move on to another vehicle.
As to the late-model vehicles with the lowest theft claims, the new HLDI study says they are the Audi A6, followed by the Mercury Mariner, the front-drive version of the 2010 Chevrolet Equinox and the Volkswagen CC.