FORD F-250 HAS HIGHEST THEFT RATE OF ANY 2010-12 VEHICLE; CADILLAC ESCALADE DROPS TO 6TH ON LIST AFTER YEARS ON TOP

ARLINGTON, Va. — The Ford F-250 has replaced the Cadillac Escalade as the favorite target of thieves, the Highway Loss Data Institute (HLDI) reports. New antitheft technology on the Escalade, as well as its waning popularity, are two likely reasons the luxury SUV has fallen from first to sixth place in the ranking of vehicles with the highest rates of insurance claims for theft.

"General Motors has put a lot of effort into new antitheft technology so that may help explain the decline in the Escalade's theft rate," says HLDI Vice President Matt Moore. "On the other hand, sales of the Escalade have fallen in recent years so there may be less of a market for stolen Escalades or Escalade parts."

Thieves continue to target large pickups and large SUVs at higher rates than other vehicles. No. 1 on this year's list, the four wheel drive F-250 crew cab, has a claim frequency of 7 per 1,000 insured vehicle years, or nearly 6 times the average for all vehicles. An insured vehicle year is one vehicle insured for one year, two for six months, etc.

2013 Ford F250
Photo courtsey of ford.com

Theft rates in general are declining thanks in large part to the spread of ignition immobilizers which prevent vehicles from being hot-wired. They were standard in 89 percent of 2012 models. Fewer pickups than cars or SUVs have the feature as standard which may help explain the higher theft rates for pickups. However, it doesn't explain the high theft rate of the F-250 which had a standard immobilizer for 2010-12, the model years covered in this year's report.

Many pickup claims result from the theft of equipment from the truck bed, and that may be the case with some of the F-250 claims. HLDI's data don't distinguish theft of vehicle contents or components from theft of a whole vehicle.

Each year HLDI analyzes theft losses for vehicles from the three previous model years. This is the first year since 2003 that some version of the Escalade hasn't topped the list of vehicles with the highest theft claim rates.

This year the Escalade has a claim frequency of 5.5 per 1,000 insured vehicle years. Though still more than 4½ times the average, that's about half the rate for 2007-09 Escalades reported in 2010. Only the regular four wheel drive version of the Escalade is included in this report. Other versions didn't have sufficient exposure or claims. To be included a vehicle must have at least 20,000 insured vehicle years or 100 claims.

The Escalade has always had a standard ignition immobilizer, but thieves could still tow away the SUV on a flatbed truck. Since 2010, the Escalade has had a steering column lock as well. An improved version of this feature, along with an inclination sensor that sets off an alarm when the vehicle's angle is changed, was added in the 2012 model year.

One indication these new features may be helping is that the average loss
payment of each Escalade claim has fallen to $6,508 suggesting fewer whole vehicle thefts. In contrast, the average loss payment for 2007-09 Escalades was $11,934. Other antitheft features, including a wheel lock system, are available as options on 2012 models.

HLDI's theft numbers differ from other rankings because they are based on the number of insured vehicles on the road. In contrast, information published by the National Insurance Crime Bureau simply lists the most frequently stolen vehicles. As a result, that list usually reflects the most commonly driven models.

INSURANCE THEFT CLAIMS, 2010-12 PASSENGER VEHICLES

Note: Claim frequencies are per 1,000 insured vehicle years; overall losses are average payments per insured vehicle year.

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