The Cadillac Escalade is the number one target of thieves, according to an annual study by the Highway Loss Data Institute.
The Escalade has been in the top ten for many years in a row.
Matt Moore of the Institute says his theory is, thieves like to take vehicles that are associated with high status and glamour.
"There’s probably no other vehicle which is more likely to be featured or seen when you’re watching television and see coverage of a professional athlete or actor or movie star," says Moore.
Some luxury vehicles, however, are in the bottom ten, including cars made by Audi, Lexus, and BMW.
Moore says owners of those vehicles tend to keep them locked up in a garage at home, as well as locked up in a garage at work, which reduces thefts.
The Chrysler 300 is also in the top ten of most targeted vehicles, along with a number of heavy-duty pickup trucks made by the Detroit Three.
The study doesn’t distinguish between thefts of vehicles and thefts from vehicles. Moore says a lot of the truck thefts could be tools and equipment in the trucks, not the trucks themselves.
Here's the top ten most targeted vehicles, and the bottom ten:
HIGHEST CLAIM RATES
Vehicle/size/claims per 1,000 vehicle year/Average loss payment per claim/Overall theft losses
Cadillac Escalade (4 versions)/large/very large luxury SUV/ 10.8 /$10,555/ $114
Ford F-250 crew 4WD /very large pickup /9.7 /$9,496 /$92
Chevrolet Silverado 1500 crew/ large pickup/ 9.2/ $4,948/ $45
Ford F-450 crew 4WD /very large pickup/ 7.9 /$11,701/ $93
GMC Sierra 1500 crew/ large pickup /7.3 /$6,022 /$44
Chrysler 300 /large car /7.1/ $5,509 /$39
Ford F-350 crew 4WD/ very large pickup /7.0 /$9,088 $64
Chevrolet Avalanche 1500/ very large SUV/ 6.4 /$6,689/ $43
GMC Yukon/ large SUV /6.4 /$6,645 /$42
Chrysler 300 HEMI/ large car /6.3/ $8,294/ $52
LOWEST CLAIM RATES
Audi A6 4WD/ large luxury car/ 0.5/ $16,882/ $8
Mercury Mariner (2009-10)/ small SUV /0.5 /$1,970 /$1
Chevrolet Equinox (2010) /midsize SUV/ 0.6 /$2,069 /$1
Volkswagen CC (2009-10) /midsize car /0.6 /$7,098 /$4
Chevrolet Equinox 4WD (2010) /midsize SUV /0.6 /$4,870 $3
Lexus RX 350 (2010) /midsize luxury /SUV /0.6 /$6,084 $4
Saturn Vue/ midsize SUV /0.6 /$3,747/ $2
Chevrolet Aveo (2009-10) /mini station wagon/ 0.6/ $7,642 /$5
BMW 5 series 4WD /large luxury car /0.7/ $12,200 /$8
Mini Cooper Clubman/ mini 2-door car /0.7 /$1,883 /$1
AVERAGE ALL PASSENGER VEHICLES 1.7 $6,767 $11
Note: Claim frequencies are per 1,000 ins. vehicle yrs.; overall losses are avg. payments per ins. vehicle yr.; vehicles 2008-10s unless otherwise noted.
For more information go to www.iihs.org
