CHICAGO, March 5 (Xinhua) -- Gun violence in U.S. third biggest city Chicago has dropped significantly so far this year, according to data compiled by the Chicago Tribune.

The number of people shot so far in 2018 was down by about 30 percent compared to the same period in 2016 and 2017, while homicides were down by about 25 percent.

Chicago has consistently ranked among the top in the country in homicides in recent years and has become synonymous with guns.

A total of 370 people have been shot this year to date, and there have been at least 82 homicides. In the same period in 2016, at least 520 had been shot and there had been 109 homicides; in 2017, at least 540 shot and 108 homicides.

The year of 2016 saw 762 homicides in Chicago, most of which were gun-related, more than New York and Los Angeles combined. Since then, Chicago has made all-out efforts to rein in the gun violence.

Local police contributed the progress to "crime-fighting technology, hiring more police officers and reinvigorating community policing efforts."