NBCNEWS.COM - The big Ford F-250 pickup has become the favorite of U.S. car thieves, replacing the Cadillac Escalade, the luxury SUV that had topped the theft chart for nearly a decade.

But although the big Caddy fell to only sixth place in the annual survey by the Highway Loss Data Institute, Cadillac's parent General Motors still had eight of the top 10 spots in terms of theft claims.

Pickups, in particular, proved extremely popular with thieves during the 2010 to 2012 period covered by the new study, accounting for the first five vehicles on the list. Following the four-wheel-drive crew cab version of the F-250 were:

* The Chevrolet Silverado 1500 crew cab;

* The Chevrolet Avalanche 1500;

* The GMC Sierra 1500 crew cab; and

* The Ford F-350 pickup

Has your car ever been stolen?

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