Breakthrough for US Auto Industry

A report today from the Highway Loss Data Institute is being hailed as a victory for the US auto industry in its attempt to regain the edge over Asian auto makers.

According to the institute's study, the most popular vehicle for auto thieves in 2009 was the Cadillac Escalade, with more than ten vehicles out of every 1,000 stolen.  The Caddy was, in the words of an institute spokesman, the vehicle "most preferred by thieves."

Number Two on the list was the Ford F-250 Crew Cab.  The spokesman declared "Thieves are after chrome, horsepower and Hemis." 

This is a dramatic turnaround from 2008, when the most popular vehicles for thieves were the Honda Accord, Honda Civic and Toyota Camry. 

Asian manufacturers are said to be huddling with engineers and designers, hoping to return to first place among felons.  "But for now," said one US auto industry titan, "we're Number One!"