Car thieves love the Cadillac Escalade

By Bobby Hickman, Insure.com

The Cadillac Escalade is not only popular with actors, professional athletes and rock stars, it's six times more likely to be targeted by thieves than an average vehicle, according to a study of claims filed with car insurance companies.

A Highway Loss Data Institute (HLDI) analysis of auto insurance claims data for 2008 through 2010 found the Escalade has overall theft losses more than 10 times higher than the typical vehicle (see chart below). HLDI reports that thieves generally favor pickup trucks and large cars, while the lowest claims rates are mostly found among small and mid-size cars and SUVs, plus the larger Audi A6 four-wheel drive and the BMW 5 series four-wheel drive.

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The Escalade is "a pop culture icon," says Matt Moore, HLDI vice president, who worked on the report. Moore notes the luxury SUV has topped the annual theft list since 2002. The Escalade is "a real status symbol," he says, adding that it often is driven by celebrities. "It's a popular vehicle among that crowd, which boosts its popularity in general."

Auto insurance companies see more domestic-car theft

All the vehicles in the top 10 list of highest claim rates were domestic makes with large engines. The most targeted car, excluding luxury and sports cars, was the Chrysler 300, followed by models known for their powerful engines. They include the Chrysler 300 HEMI, the Dodge Charger HEMI and the Nissan Maxima.

Pickup trucks account for five of the entries, including the Ford F-250 crew cab four-wheel-drive, which ranks second to the Escalade in theft claim frequency. HLDI statistics do not distinguish the theft of an entire vehicle versus parts or contents.

"We suspect the Escalade is being stolen as a whole vehicle," while pickups probably rank high because of "theft of contents from the vehicle, particularly from the vehicle bed," Moore says. Overall, pickups have much higher theft rates than passenger cars and SUVs.

The Audi A6 sedan and the Mercury Mariner, a small SUV, led the list of vehicles with the lowest claim frequencies. Both vehicles have a claim rate of 0.5 per 1,000 insured vehicle years, while the average passenger vehicle has a rate of 1.7 claims per 1,000 years.

While most of the vehicles with the lowest claims rates are small and mid-sized cars and SUVs, the Audi and BMW 5 series four-wheel drive vehicles are large luxury cars. Moore says both have sophisticated anti-theft systems.

"It is also logical to assume that those vehicles are being kept under lock and key most of the time," with owners often keeping them in garages at home and in secured parking areas at work, he adds.

Anti-theft devices are helpful

Overall, HLDI studies are finding decreased vehicle theft claim rates with auto insurance companies in recent years. To a large extent, Moore says, the trend reflects the fact that newer vehicles "are being fitted increasingly by manufacturers with immobilizers."

Immobilizers are electronic systems that prevent a car’s engine from running unless activated with a special device. Low-tech steering wheel locks also are helpful when it comes to discouraging theft. The more barriers you create to theft the more secure your car will be. Using such devices can reduce your car insurance rates, but they aren’t foolproof.

"Immobilizers are a good deterrent against joyriding teenagers, but professional thieves can easily haul away an SUV on a flatbed truck” Kim Hazelbaker, HLDI senior vice president, said in a prepared statement. "A pickup that can't be driven away is still vulnerable to having tools and cargo snatched from its bed."

How can consumers with older cars that lack immobilizers protect themselves from theft? Moore suggests common sense tips like parking in safe and well-lighted area. He also suggests not leaving contents in plain sight that are desirable to thieves.

HLDI's data comes from insurance companies representing about 80 percent of the market for privately insured vehicles.

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