SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- For his final project at Syracuse University, Alex Lynch studied crime in the student-heavy University Hill neighborhood. Now, a year after graduating, he's raised enough money to do something about it.

Lynch raised $94,000 from landlords and student groups to purchase and install eight security cameras throughout the University Hill neighborhood.

The cameras will target high-crime portions of the neighborhood where burglaries and theft are most common. They will be stationed around Euclid Avenue between Comtock Avenue and Westcott Street, including one at the corner of Euclid and Westcott.

Syracuse police data shows a total of 2,556 reported crimes in that area between 2013 and 2015. That includes 1,195 larcenies, 480 burglaries, 60 aggravated assaults, 19 rapes and one murder.

Lynch conducted a student survey in 2015 that showed 84 percent of SU students felt safe walking on campus at night, while 82 percent of students felt unsafe walking off campus at night.

SU has 1,100 security cameras on campus, according to a recent report from The Daily Orange.

"My ultimate goal is to reduce crime in the neighborhood," Lynch said. "It's made up of mostly students and I want my peers to feel safe off campus," Lynch said.

Lynch graduated from Syracuse University's Maxwell School in 2016. The safety improvements were part of his capstone project. After graduation, the school's Department of Public Safety hired him to make the cameras a reality.

The $94,000 raised includes $40,000 from private landlords and $54,000 from student groups at SU and SUNY-ESF. Ben Tupper, who owns 70 rental properties in the neighborhood, chipped in $30,000 and wrote a letter of support for the cameras.

Lynch said earning landlords' support was relatively easy, since the cameras could reduce break-ins at their properties. Last Thanksgiving, for example, there were six burglaries at university-area homes, he said.

"I just showed them maps and said here's the crime...they didn't realize it was such a widespread issue," Lynch said. "[The cameras] are essentially a security system for the entire neighborhood."

As a student, Lynch spent years pushing for off-campus security. He met with the council and Mayor Stephanie Miner to pitch his idea. He is now seeking official approval from the council, which will vote on the cameras Monday. Several councilors applauded his efforts Wednesday.

"Good for you, man," said Chad Ryan, 2nd district councilor.

If approved, the cameras will be connected to the Syracuse Police Department's growing surveillance network citywide. The department will be responsible for maintaining them.

University Hill Cameras by chrsbakr on Scribd