Ford F-250 replaces Escalade as most stolen vehicle

For the first time in three years, the Cadillac Escalade is not the most stolen vehicle in America, an institute that monitors auto theft losses said Monday. The bulky sports utility vehicle has been toppled from the list by the Ford F-250 four-wheel-drive pickup, the Highway Loss Data Institute said in a statement. The Escalade fell to sixth place in the institute's latest ranking of vehicles with the highest rates of insurance claims for theft. HLDI said the Escalade's decline in the ranking could be caused by its manufacturer, General Motors, installing new anti-theft technology in the vehicle. The institute also noted that sales of the vehicle have declined in recent years, making it less popular with thieves. The Escalade had topped the list since 2010. At the top of the list, the Ford F250 crew cab had a theft rate six times that of the average vehicle, HLDI said. Large pickups were four of the top five vehicles experiencing claims for theft, the institute said. The second-most stolen vehicle was the Chevrolet Silverado 1500 crew cab, a large pickup. The organization said auto theft rates in general were down, in large part because ignition immobilizers were being installed in more vehicles. The device, which prevents thieves from hot-wiring the vehicle, was not installed in as many pickups. The Dodge Journey 4WD, a midsize SUV, and the Hyundai Tucson 4WD, a small SUV, were among the vehicles with the lowest claim rates.