The Top Stolen Cadillac Escalade Has New Antitheft Devices

Cadillac Escalade - long beloved among the 'midnight auto parts' theft set.

The Cadillac Escalade is more than 6 times as likely as the average vehicle to be targeted by thieves and has overall theft losses more than 10 times as big, according the Highway Loss Data Institute – HLDI. So little wonder that Cadillac in a release today is touting what it claims are new security enhancements developed to thwart thieves on Escalade models.

New for 2012, the Escalade has a stronger steering column lock system that makes it nearly “impossible” to maneuver the Escalade onto a flatbed tow vehicle; an optional inclination sensor that sets off an alarm when the system senses a change in the angle of the vehicle, which would occur with towing, flat-bedding or jacking up the vehicle; an optional shock sensor intended to reduce content theft and push away theft by sounding the alarm when the vehicle is “shocked” such as breaking the glass; and a new wheel lock system – again optional – is available too.

“The goal is to make the Escalade a very difficult target for thieves without any added inconvenience for customers,” said Bill Biondo, who works on vehicle theft prevention at Gneral Motors. “The new systems work in the background and few people realize they are there, but they are strong added protections.”

The Escalade for years has the dubious distinction of topping HLDI’s list of vehicles with the most theft claims, and four versions of the luxury SUV appear at the top in the latest data. The Escalade EXT, which has a pickup bed, is ranked worst, with more than 14 claims per 1,000 insured vehicle years, or more than 8 times the average. (An insured vehicle year is 1 vehicle insured for 1 year, 2 for 6 months.)

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