I just bought my first Cadillac, a 2009 STS, and I’m quite excited about owning such a beautiful and prestigious car. But along with owning such a fine vehicle comes the risk of others coveting what I have. I would like to know other members’ experiences with theft, break-ins, stolen tires, etc. But I would also like to hear from people who have owned a Cadillac for years and have never had a problem. I just don’t know if people really mess with them that much. I know Cadillacs are not on the “top list” of stolen vehicles, but what about break-ins, tires, vandalism, etc?

my 2 cents - with the STS, you're more likely to get kids ripping off the badges, wheel inserts, etc...anything with the emblem itself.

Now - Escallades are a different story.

Just depends on what they are in the 'market' for. If they have an order for STS wheels and tires, and yours is available, you may have a bad day. My only such experience was with a '69 Chevelle SS396. In '85, it was very clean and original, but not worth much then (wish I had it now!). Parked at an airport, came back to find it stripped. All 4 OE rally wheels and new Firestones, hood, battery, chrome air cleaner, gone. What a mess.

Oldsmobile clunkers have been the most stolen car for decades. Auto thieves are stupid and have absolutely no descrimination. Whether or not your car is stolen is strictly a matter of dumb luck unless you drive an Oldsmobile clunker.

Apparently from what I hear from friends, only gangsters and old people drive Caddys... so just make it look more Gangster than Grandma, and they'll know better!
Since I had my windows tinted (car stock other than that, base 17" wheels even) People tell me they're scared to stand too close, or look at it for too long.

I once had the tire valve covers stolen off my Viper at a car show.

I once had the tire valve covers stolen off my Viper at a car show.

That sucks! :rant2: And it probably cost you $100 to replace it too!

That's funny. I hear the same garbage from friends and family and I get sick of it. But when they ride in or see the STS, they say "that's a really nice car."

So why don't they shut thier big mouths in the mean time? :want:

I do worry about it being a target for vandalism. Knock on wood!


Apparently from what I hear from friends, only gangsters and old people drive Caddys... so just make it look more Gangster than Grandma, and they'll know better!
Since I had my windows tinted (car stock other than that, base 17" wheels even) People tell me they're scared to stand too close, or look at it for too long.

i think they know they cant get far stealing a caddy. its easier to go after the low end car lines cause the cars are not as hard to break or resale. most anything in a caddy is caddy specific or coded for security that would sell for big money 2nd hand.

That's funny. I hear the same garbage from friends and family and I get sick of it. But when they ride in or see the STS, they say "that's a really nice car."

So why don't they shut thier big mouths in the mean time? :want:

I do worry about it being a target for vandalism. Knock on wood!

The STS is a bad ass looking car. I love it!

How would someone even steal an STS, there's no key!

Tow it!

It's not the only car without a key so I'm sure it's been figured out and most likely not that difficult with the right tool or equipment.

Someone broke the hood emblem off of my deville one time. I had alot of high end A/V equipment in it but it never got stolen or messed with. Although everyone who knew me or knew what I had in there knew I had the best gps tracking viper alarm with all the available options in it.

STE 6000 is right though I always hear a lot about escallades being the most stolen car but if you look on that one insurance site or whatever site it is that says the most cars stolen alot of the more popular ones are a little older Nissans Toyotas Chevys and such. I think some of it comes down to the fact that it does take some but not a lot of knowlege to steal an 02 altima or a cavalier, it does however take some good knowhow to steal a newer Cadillac.

Apparently from what I hear from friends, only gangsters and old people drive Caddys... so just make it look more Gangster than Grandma, and they'll know better!
Since I had my windows tinted (car stock other than that, base 17" wheels even) People tell me they're scared to stand too close, or look at it for too long.

You without a doubt have some much uninformed friends. Have you considered changing friends? Everybody now drives a Cadillac whether they can afford it or not.

Actually had a Colorado State Patrolman tell me last week (when he stopped me for my speed) that one of things he thought of when considering weather or to stop me that "drug runners like these Cadillacs"

I've never had anyone mess with my car, but that's just an advantage of living in a smaller community.

Thanks for all the input! It sounds like most people have been fortunate. That's reassuring and good to hear.

Does having Onstar deter theives?

Onstar deters dumb people who would want to steal your car. Anyone with just a little professional knowledge will know where the Onstar module is and cut the wires before long. I even heard all you gotta do is take the antenna off of the roof or unscrew it.

Most thieves are either stupid or kids. Just for the sake of an additional argument, since the STS and the STS- V, as the XLRs are low-volume cars, as compared the rest of the American and Rice-A-Roonie lines, it does not make sense to steal something that has limited demand or resale opportunity.

Kids joy-ride, but they usually don't have the smarts to get into an STS unless it's a family car and they have the fob. Damage - yes, steal- no.

Here is one more - many years ago Readers Digest put a vinyl American Flag decal in their issue and found that when people placed it in their car's back window, the theft rate when down for those cars. Interesting.

Actually had a Colorado State Patrolman tell me last week (when he stopped me for my speed) that one of things he thought of when considering weather or to stop me that "drug runners like these Cadillacs"

In'07 bought my STS in Chicago and did a whole road trip around the country. My brother warned me that he gets pulled over in Ohio and Colorado on cross country trips cuz they are looking for out of state plates thinking a good chance you are running drugs. After hearing his warnings on the trip got pulled over twice for slight speeding, once in the Ohio turnpike, once in Durango CO. Both times was about 10mph only over the limit and got off with warnings. Think they were hoping I was going to have a few kilos in the trunk!

Young people with Tx tags get stopped in West Memphis, Ar (IH 40) all the time. Cops find a ton of drugs in some of these vehicles.

How bout this one:

Friend of mine (45 yrs old) had his father's Navigator. Vehicle had handicapped tags. He parks near front of Walgreens, and as he gets out of truck, 3 or 4 guys jump him, spray his face with paint and start beating up on him.

He had just finished a dental visit that cost about $2,000 or more. All his new dental work ended up on the ground. His wallet was gone. He still had his Rolex, Navigator, and life.

Stupid 20-year-olds did this in broad daylight, right across the street from a few policemen having lunch. One of the young perps might have some problem pro-creating, if you know what I mean. Police were there in seconds, but guys were already gone. Walgreens has this on video/security tape.

We all need to look around prior to exiting vehicles.

That seems like alot of effort for a wallet. Why not just threaten him and ask him for it?
Something doesn't add up here.

Onstar deters dumb people who would want to steal your car. Anyone with just a little professional knowledge will know where the Onstar module is and cut the wires before long. I even heard all you gotta do is take the antenna off of the roof or unscrew it.

Most people that steal are idiots. and the ones that are smart go after cars much better then our caddys. our cars are inbetween. to hard for the simple thief to steal but not costly enough for the smart high priced thief to want. very good thieves i think go after Mercedes and between in the import area cause they are worth more to sell.

This only doesn't add up if you assume that the 20 YOs are not POSs and they have something resembling a brain.

If you assume they are POSs without brains, it adds up fine.

I came very close to being car jacked once a long time ago. I was able to speed off. This was a totally different (junk) car many years ago. But I've always tryied to stay aware of everyone around me ever since.


That seems like alot of effort for a wallet. Why not just threaten him and ask him for it?
Something doesn't add up here.

I have had 2 Cadillacs stolen.

One was a 1980 Sedan de Ville stolen from my driveway in 1982.
It was found a few hours later...the wire wheels and tires were gone.
They broke the steering column to start it.

Next time was from the WalMart parking lot in 1992.
Same car.
I had parked...wasn't gone for more than 5 minutes...came back out...car was gone.
It was found the next day...looked like they used a crowbar to rip the radio out of the dash.
All of the change I had in the ashtray was gone. About 5 bucks worth.
Had about $3,000 of computer hard drives and RAM in the rear floor board...they were not touched.

Texas Jim

Jim,
Reminds me of getting my jeep broken into in college. Used a screwdriver to punch the door and unlock. Literally ripped the stereo out, total insurance bill was $1200. All they stole was the stereo headunit, the cheapest Pioneer I could get (about $150 at the time). My $1,000 Garmin GPS was left right where it was mounted, in plain sight.

Jim,
Reminds me of getting my jeep broken into in college. Used a screwdriver to punch the door and unlock. Literally ripped the stereo out, total insurance bill was $1200. All they stole was the stereo headunit, the cheapest Pioneer I could get (about $150 at the time). My $1,000 Garmin GPS was left right where it was mounted, in plain sight.

I have the DVD headsets installed in my STS. That is one thing I'm afraid might attracted unwanted attention. But they would have to practically destroy the players in order to steal them! Hopefully the bad guys will focus on the easier targets and leave my black beauty alone!

My 2006 STS waas "keyed" on both sides...:crying2:

Someone kicked (pretty sure) and broke the grill on my friends SRX. And someone slashed the tires at the Atlanta airport another one of my friends CTS. But no one has ever messed with mine............ yet

My friends SRX got the grill broke by what looked like someone kicked it or hit it with something. And my local Cadillac Dealer har 15 or so tires slashed in one night.

I think it is because they (dealer) are the hardest people to deal with.

No one has ever messed with mine though........... yet

that is vandalism. doesnt matter what car u have at that point. when its to steal the car or something in it, its a different story.