GM: "Keep Your Hands Off The Escalade!"

DETROIT- (WWJ) General Motors says it's working to change the Cadillac Escalade's recent distinction as the favorite vehicle of thieves.

The Escalade finishing tops on a list put out by the Highway Data Loss Institute. Vice President Matt Moore says the Escalade is targeted because of its popularity.

"It's very much a pop culture icon," said Moore. "I think anytime you watch the news and see footage of celebrities or athletes getting into their vehicle, there's almost always an Escalade somewhere in the shot."

The Escalade is six times more likely than the average vehicle to be targeted by thieves, and has ten times the losses.

The vehicle's popularity with thieves comes as no surprise to General Motors.

"It's a high priced vehicle," said Bill Biando, GM's lead for global security. "It's very popular in sales. So, there's a good market for parts. Some of the parts, such as the wheels and tires and nav units are worth a lot of money on the streets."

Biando says GM has been working for years to deal trying to make the Escalade more theft resistant. That included the addition of immobilizers in 2007 to prevent drive-away theft. Just last year, they added a steering column lock.

More security enhancements are planned for the 2012 model year. That includes upgrading the column lock and adding an "inclination sensor" that sounds off an alarm if somebody tries to tow the vehicle away.

General Motors says it's working to change the Cadillac Escalade's recent distinction of being the favorite vehicle of thieves.

The Escalade finishing tops on a list put out by the Highway Data Loss Institute. Vice President Matt Moore says the Escalade is targeted because of its popularity.

"It's very much a pop culture icon," said Moore. "I think anytime you watch the news and see footage of celebrities or athletes getting into their vehicle, there's almost always an Escalade somewhere in the shot."

The Escalade is six times more likely than the average vehicle to be targeted by thieves, and has ten times the losses.

The vehicle's popularity with thieves comes as no surprise to General Motors.

"It's a high priced vehicle," said Bill Biando, GM's lead for global security. "It's very popular in sales. So, there's a good market for parts. Some of the parts, such as the wheels and tires and nav units are worth a lot of money on the streets."

Biando says GM has been working for years to deal trying to make the Escalade more theft resistant. That included the addition of immobilizers in 2007 to prevent drive-away theft. Just last year, they added a steering column lock.

More security enhancements are planned for the 2012 model year. That includes upgrading the column lock and adding an "inclination sensor" that sounds off an alarm if somebody tries to tow the vehicle away.