Cadillac Escalade reigns as king of car thefts

By Barbara Marquand, Insure.com

The Cadillac Escalade remained car thieves' favorite target among for passenger vehicles that are one to three years old, according to the Highway Loss Data Institute (HLDI), an affiliate of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

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Theft-loss rates for the luxury SUV are more than seven times the average for all vehicles. The second-worst vehicle for theft loss is the Ford F-250 crew pickup, followed by the Infiniti G37 luxury car and Dodge Charger with a HEMI engine.

Theft claims impact car insurance rates for comprehensive coverage, so vehicles that are popular among car thieves will cost more to insure. While the frequency of auto thefts has declined over the years, overall theft insurance claim costs have increased. Most vehicles with the highest overall theft losses are SUVs and pickups. The Escalade has earned the dubious distinction of having the worst theft-loss record in the last six out of seven years.

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The Tony Soprano effect

"The Escalade has a unique place in pop culture history," says HDLI senior vice president Kim Hazelbaker. "It's the car Tony Soprano drove, and it's the car celebrities are photographed getting in and out of."

Almost one of every four Escalade theft claims is for $40,000 or more. Escalades are equipped with flashy amenities, such as DVD screens on the back of head rests and antitheft ignition immobilizers, which prevent them from being started without the proper key.

That technology thwarts casual criminals -- "We don't hear anymore about teen-agers hot-wiring cars," Hazelbaker notes -- but it doesn't stop professionals from loading them onto flatbed trucks and hauling them out of the country for sale overseas.

Top targets for car theft

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