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>As if you needed another reason to buy a more fuel-efficient car, you can now feel safer about it because thieves just don’t want it.

According to a report from the Highway Loss Data Institute, hybrids and fuel-efficient cars are stolen a lot less often than others. The report looked at insurance claims for theft losses from 2007 to 2009 and fuel-efficient cars showed some of the lowest losses. The insurance claims take into account both the number of times claims were filed and also the payment for the claims.

The car with the most insurance claims for theft was the Cadillac Escalade, which averages at 11 mpg, followed by the Ford F-250 pickup and the Infiniti G37 luxury car. In fact most of the cars with the highest losses were large SUV’s, pickups and luxury cars.

The Toyota Prius, a hybrid, is the least stolen vehicle on the list. The frequency of claims for the Prius was a low 0.8% as compared to 10.8% for the Escalade. The Prius also had an average loss payment of $2,203 per claim as compared to $11,934 for the Escalade.

The Prius, which averages at 50 mpg, shares it spot on the lowest losses list with other fuel-efficient cars like the Volvo S80 (27 mpg) and the Mini Cooper (32 mpg).

Prius owners need not be insulted; Escalade parts are just worth more on the black market. Kim Hazelbaker, HLDI senior vice president says, “Thieves are after chrome, horsepower, and Hemis,” which may explain why more fuel-efficient vehicles are so low on the list.

Knowing thieves are into gas-guzzlers is one more good reason to buy a hybrid. Besides saving money on fuel, you can now save yourself the anxiety of worrying whether your vehicle is safer from theft and damage.

Source: http://www.iihs.org/news/rss/pr080310.html