Dubbo Regional Council records spike in reports of burnt and abandoned vehicles on local roads

An increase in burnt and abandoned vehicles across Dubbo is being recorded, following the spike in youths stealing and burning cars for social media fame.

A burnt car which was spotted on the side of Mitchell Highway in Dubbo.

An increase in burnt and abandoned cars is being reported daily throughout the streets of Dubbo.

It comes following the spike in children and teenagers stealing and burning cars in order to chase social media fame and create TikTok videos.

The problem has escalated across Dubbo and, as police continue to crack down, the responsibility of removing the cars off local roads falls on Dubbo Regional Council (DRC).

The council has recorded a significant increase in requests – escalating to daily – to remove burnt and abandoned cars.

Council’s environmental compliance manager Helen Eyre said council was permitted to remove burnt cars immediately but had to follow specific guidelines when it came to abandoned cars.

A burnt car which was spotted on the side of Mitchell Highway in Dubbo.

Ms Eyre said that if an abandoned vehicle was “obstructing access or a safety risk” DRC was able to remove it, however they must wait a period of 15 or 28 days if it is on the side of the road.

“If the vehicle is registered and has been unattended for 28 days or more, then we put a sticker on it and we have to give a notice of 15 days before we remove it,” she said.

“If it is registered but inoperable due to damage or missing parts, it has to be unattended for 15 days, then we can remove it three days after we give notice.

“For an unregistered vehicle, it has to be 15 days, then we can remove it three days after we give notice.”

A contribution to the online Dubbo Crime Page of a car in flames on dry grass and near power lines.

Ms Eyre said removals are often delayed due to the demand for towing companies.

“We’ve seen an increase in burnt out vehicles in the past weeks, but the amount of abandoned vehicles is the same,” Ms she said.

“If we see abandoned vehicles, we try to get them removed as soon as we can to prevent people from damaging or setting them on fire.

“This week we have already removed three burnt vehicles, but in the past couple of weeks it has been almost every day that we found a burnt vehicle.”

Ms Eyre said organising a tow truck was an additional financial burden to the council as costs vary between $120 to $180 per vehicle.

DRC and the local police are working together on the matter, while also recording an increase in complaints from local residents on the issue.

Orana Mid-Western Police District recently formed Strike Force Monoceros investigate break, enter, and steal offences within the Dubbo region.

Commander Danny Sullivan said the latest trend had become “a pattern that was happening across Australia” for the “overwhelming” reason of uploading dangerous driving videos on social media platforms in the hope they will go viral.

Mr Sullivan said the trend was prominent in youths aged between 10 and 17.

“I’m very pleased to say we’ve had a number of arrests as an outcome of this strike force and we’ve placed those people before the courts appropriately,” Mr Sullivan said.