Cadillac Escalade favorite thieves' target

ARLINGTON, Va., Aug. 25 (UPI) -- The Cadillac Escalade leads the list of passenger vehicles targeted by thieves, insurance claims for 2008-2010 vehicles show.

The Highway Loss Data Institute says the Escalade is more than six times as likely as the average vehicle to be hit by thieves, the institute says, and the average overall loss per claim, $10,555, is higher than that of most vehicles.

Insurance theft claims include entire vehicles, vehicle parts and vehicle contents.

Thieves also target pickups often, with the Ford F-250 crew cab four-wheel drive placing second among all vehicles targeted, followed by the Chevrolet Silverado 1500 crew cab, the Ford F-450 crew cab four-wheel drive and the GMC Sierra 1500 crew cab.

The Ford F-250 crew cab four-wheel drive's overall loss per claim averaged $9,496; the Chevy Silverado 1500 crew cab, $4,948; the Ford F-450 crew cab four-wheel drive, $11,701; and the GMC Sierra 1500 crew, $6,022.

Rounding out the Top 10 vehicles targeted are the Chrysler 300, a large passenger car; the Ford F-350 crew cab four-wheel drive pickup; the Chevy Avalanche 1500 SUV, the GMC Yukon SUV and the Chrysler 300 HEMI passenger car.

Among vehicles least frequently targeted by thieves are the Audi A6 four-wheel drive, the Mercury Mariner SUV (2009-2010 models), the Chevrolet Equinox SUV, the Volkswagen CC (2009-10) and the Chevrolet Equinox four-wheel-drive SUV.