Police were called to the Cancer Society in Great King St following a report a window had been broken about 2am yesterday.
Senior Sergeant Steve Aitken said the burglar used a large rock to smash glass and gain entry to the building, before attempting to snatch a donation box from a nearby table.
"However, they were foiled by a chain attached to the donation box which was wound around the table, and left empty-handed."
Police were reviewing CCTV footage of the incident and were taking prints from the donation box in an effort to track down the offender.
"Stealing a donation box is low and disgusting."
Cancer Society Otago Southland division chief executive Mike Kernaghan, who was called out early yesterday to help secure the building, was disappointed by the break-in.
In addition to office space, the building also contained 11 rooms where people from outside Dunedin stayed while awaiting treatment, he said.
"All the noise and the clatter for those people add to the despicability of it all. It is just gut-wrenching for people going through all this.
"It is just disappointing people would target an organisation that relies totally on the community for its funding," Mr Kernaghan said.
