Insurance study shows Ford F-250 most coveted by thieves

The Ford F-250 crew cab is the new vehicle of choice among thieves, replacing the Cadillac Escalade on the Highway Loss Data Institute's yearly list of most stolen passenger vehicles.

Posted 8:47 p.m. Jul 9, 2013 — Updated 8:47 p.m. Jul 9, 2013

The Ford F-250 crew cab is the new vehicle of choice among thieves, replacing the Cadillac Escalade on the Highway Loss Data Institute’s yearly list of most stolen passenger vehicles.

According to the list, theft claims are filed for seven out of every 1,000 insured Ford F-250s. The Chevrolet Silverado 1500 is second on the list, followed by the Chevrolet Avalanche 1500 and the GMC Sierra 1500.

The Escalade fell from first place to sixth, largely because of new anti-theft technology.

"General Motors has put a lot of effort into new anti-theft technology, so that may help explain the decline in the Escalade's theft rate," Matt Moore, vice president of the organization, said in a statement Tuesday. "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."

The institute is an independent nonprofit. The list is based on the number of insured vehicles on the road, not the most commonly driven models.

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