Yes it is a crime, and if I were local I would make the citizen's arrest myself!

Seriously, though, take the couple of hours and pull the engine before you scrap the car--you can pull an engine suprisingly quickly if you aren't trying to save the car it's in--just cut hoese, wiring, etc and pull the trans with the engine, alot easier than separating it.

Just remember, the definition of junk: something you keep for years and throw away the day before you need it.