WYNDHAM streets are being treated as junkyards, with hundreds of vehicles abandoned over the past three years.

Figures released to Star show there were 741 cars dumped on nature strips, reserves and the backblocks of industrial estates.

Werribee Traffic Management Unit Senior Constable Stephen Cook said police were cracking down on the reckless behaviour.

“People dump the cars for various reasons,” he said.

“Sometimes they have been in car crashes and the cost of repair is not worthwhile.

“If a car is not registered and the police pick it up, the plates are seized and the driver will just dump it.”

Sen Const Cook said motorists rarely came forward as most vehicles were close to 20 years old and stolen to engage in hoon activity.

“People are stealing cars from the city and they will flog it three or four blocks away from where they live,” he said.

“They abandon cars out at Cobbledicks Ford Reserve or go for joy rides out in the new estates.”

It follows Victoria Police statistics released last month that exposed the western suburbs as hoon capitals.

Werribee was the second highest hotspot of where hoons resided, with 117 cars confiscated.

Hoppers Crossing came in third with 115 cars and St Albans topped the list at 125.

Sen Const Cook said the disregard for property had created an eyesore.

“Sometimes people who have a car accident when they are drunk will do a runner and they might not go back to the scene for three or four days,” he said.

“If it causes someone to be hurt or causes another collision then they are legally liable.”

He said car parts were also found scattered across nature strips.

The owner of an unregistered car left on a roadside would be hit with a $584 fine while a dumped vehicle or car part incurs a $234 penalty.

The EPA could also slap the driver with a hefty littering infringement notice.

Sen Const Cook said officers received a few calls every shift with residents reporting suspicious vehicles.

“A lot of people call up because they think it’s stolen,” he said.

“The public are really on top of it, they know if a car has been dumped in their streets.”

Council’s acting community development director Tony Addley said vehicles left standing were towed and impounded.

Mr Addley said the towing company sold the unclaimed vehicles at auction.