Cadillac Escalade Most Wanted By Auto Thieves

(New York-WWJ) The rich and famous love it. So, too, do thieves. The Cadillac Escalade is the vehicle most likely to be targeted by thieves.

That's according to the Highway Loss Data Institute, which bases its conclusion on insurance claims for model years 2008 through 2010.

Escalade, with a 63 thousand dollar price tag, is six times more likely to be stolen than the average vehicle. The average loss payment per claim of $10,555 easily outpaces the number two vehicle on the list, Ford's F-250 crew cab four-wheel drive.

The institute's vice president, Matt Moore, says it's easy to explain why Escalade gets hit more often than any other vehicle. "It's a status symbol," he says.

All ten of the vehicles most likely to be stolen are from General Motors, Ford and Chrysler. The least favorite: Audi's A6 4WD, which also has the highest average loss payment: $16,882.

(Copyright 2011 WWJ Newsradio 950. All Rights Reserved. The Associated Press Contributed To This Story)