Anytime you park a car, you should be consciously making sure you're taking steps to prevent theft. That may be especially true if you drive a Ford truck, as the vehicle is quickly becoming a favorite of criminals across the U.S.
New data from the Highway Loss Data Institute shows that the Ford F-250 is the vehicle most targeted by car thieves. The truck surpassed the Cadillac Escalade in theft popularity, partially because of shrinking sales for the luxury SUV and also due to new security systems for the Cadillac. The F-250 is stolen more than six times the average rate.
"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," said Matt Moore, HDLI vice president. "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."
Although car thieves continue to eye large pickup trucks and SUVs more than any other type of vehicle, the total number of thefts is falling. More comprehensive security systems play a large role in this, so you should be sure you're keeping an eye on your technological devices and getting car repair if they stop working effectively.