According to the Highway Loss Data Institute (HLDI), the Cadillac Escalade is six times more likely to be targeted by car thieves and has dominated the list of theft claims for the past four years. General Motors wants to put an end to all this with new security features in the 2012 Cadillac Escalade that are designed to foil thieves.

Most of the car’s new features are designed to prohibit a “push-away” theft, which is where the car is pulled away via tow truck or loaded on a flatbed. GM says a standard more-robust steering-column lock makes it nearly impossible to maneuver the Escalade onto a flatbed while optional inclination and shock sensors will set the alarm off to prohibit push-away thefts as well the theft of any property left loose in the vehicle.

In addition, the car key features a new encryption system to prevent drive-away thefts and a new wheel lock will help prevent the theft of the car’s wheels and tires.

According to the HLDI, all four versions of the Escalade have a claim frequency of 10.8 per 1,000 vehicles based on data for 2008–2010. The Escalade EXT (think Chevrolet Avalanche) is ranked worst, with more than 14 claims per 1,000 insured vehicles.

HLDI's theft numbers differ from reports by other organizations, like the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and National Insurance Crime Bureau, because its numbers are based on the number of insured vehicles on the road, making more-popular vehicles no more likely to appear on its list, and include vehicles with a gross weight of more than 6,000 pounds.

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