Crime in both Nassau and Suffolk counties is down so far in 2017, according to police data, and authorities say the decrease is thanks in part to new technology put in place after a series of killings linked to the MS-13 street gang.

Nassau is reporting a 5.2 percent drop compared to the same time last year in major crimes, which includes homicide, burglary and robbery. And Suffolk says major crime is down 12.6 percent compared to the same time period last year.

The departments say that over all, crime is down just over 9 percent in Suffolk and roughly 3 percent in Nassau.

Suffolk Police Commissioner Tim Sini credits the decrease to intelligence-led policing and community policing. Sini also says that beginning this fall, a plan to put in more surveillance cameras and license plate readers in crime hot spots will be rolled out.

Sini adds that the force is targeting MS-13 gang members on Suffolk's streets after the killings of 15-year-old Nisa Mickens and 16-year-old Kayla Cuevas last September in Brentwood.

The violence involving MS-13 has also been seen in Nassau. Police say there were four murders at the hands of the street gang since last year, including a teen whose body was found at the Massapequa Preserve last March.