Police are handing out free wheel locks to car theft victims at a south Auckland trouble spot.

So far, they have given 150 of the security devices to repeat victims and have rustled up 400 in total as part of the "prevention first" initiative.

Counties Manukau Police said 900 cars have been stolen in the Manurewa area in the past three months alone and they want to protect the community.

They said vehicles commonly targeted are late 90s Nissans and early 2000s Mazdas and Subarus.