Cadillac Escalade Is Favorite Pick for Car Thieves

Just the Facts:

• The Cadillac Escalade is the favorite choice of car thieves, while the least likely vehicle to be targeted is the Audi A6 four-wheel-drive model, according to a new study.
• The Cadillac Escalade EXT is ranked the worst among Escalade models, says an analysis of insurance claims for 2008-'10 vehicles by the Highway Loss Data Institute.
• Pickups are also big with car thieves, with the Ford F-250 crew cab four-wheel drive coming in second for the most theft claims.

ARLINGTON, Virginia — The Cadillac Escalade is the favorite choice of car thieves, while the least likely vehicle to be targeted is the Audi A6 four-wheel-drive model, according to a new study.

The Cadillac Escalade EXT, which has a pickup bed, is ranked the worst among Escalade models, says an analysis of insurance claims for 2008-'10 vehicles by the Highway Loss Data Institute.

The Escalade EXT has "more than 14 claims per 1,000 insured vehicle years, or more than eight times the average," said the study.

The Escalade has an average loss payment per claim of $10,555.

Pickups are big with car thieves, with the Ford F-250 crew cab four-wheel drive coming in second for the most theft claims. Also on the list of highest claim rates are the Chevrolet Silverado 1500 crew cab, Ford F-450 crew cab four-wheel drive, GMC Sierra 1500 crew cab and the Chrysler 300.

The Chrysler 300 is noteworthy because it's the only car on the list of the top 10 most stolen.

Even though the Audi A6 is the least likely to be hit by thieves, its average loss payment per claim was a whopping $16,882 — or 60 percent higher than the Escalade, according to the study.

The A6 was followed by the Mercury Mariner, the Chevrolet Equinox, Volkswagen CC, Lexus RX 350, Saturn Vue, Chevrolet Aveo, BMW 5 Series 4WD and Mini Cooper Clubman.

General Motors said in a statement that it's trying to make the Escalade harder to steal with new theft-deterrent systems such as a "more robust" steering column lock system that makes it harder to maneuver the Escalade onto a flatbed truck.

Inside Line says: Athletes and celebs aren't the only ones anxious to get their hands on the Cadillac Escalade.