Americans love pickup trucks. And that fact is emphasized by the fact that Ford F-series pickups now include not only the best-selling vehicle on the market, but also the most targeted by thieves.
While the F-150 is the most popular Ford truck among those acquiring vehicles through legal means, thieves prefer the F-250 crew 4WD more than any other vehicle on the streets, according to a report from the Detroit News.
The F-250 replaced the Cadillac Escalade in the no. 1 spot of the latest round of the Highway Loss Data Institute’s ranking of vehicles with the highest rates of insurance claims for theft.
The Escalade held the top spot from 2003 too 2009 before falling to no. 6 in the latest round. This year’s study covered claims filed from 2010-2012.
The rankings were put together based on frequency of claims per 1,000 vehicles. The F-250 accounts for 7 theft claims per 1,000 which is nearly six times the average for all vehicles.
And while Ford pickups hold the top and no. 5 spots, General Motors trucks and SUVs dominate the list, taking 8 of the 10 spots. The highest GM finisher was the Chevrolet Silverado crew at no. 2.
A big reason vehicles tend to fall down the rankings is the inclusion of antitheft devices from automakers. Both GM and Ford say they have taken steps to reduce theft claims through such devices.