Detroit's DO Foundation Robbed of Vital Equipment

DETROIT (WJBK) - Brian O'Neal is the founder of the DO Foundation, a non-profit based in Detroit. Tuesday, he was cleaning up the mess from a break-in.

The organization reaches out to help the homeless and poverty stricken people, but the recent break-in left the office ransacked and looted.

"They cleaned us out this time. It was pretty devastating," said O'Neal. "Fax machines, some phones, computers — all the things that we really need to operate and help the people of the community."

Labor Day there was another break-in at the foundation's office on Woodward.

"They broke the front door and they got in," O'Neal explained. "We suspect it was probably a client of ours because there was only homeless items that were taken that time."

This times the thieves dismantled a glass block security window to gain entry. They may have been familiar with the building.

"It's a lot of work, a lot of money, and it's a shame," said Ebenezero Rirenchi, who owns the building. "This DO fund, they just try to help people, and the same people they try to help will come back and take everything that they have."

While the break-in is a serious setback for the foundation's operation, O'Neal said the work will continue.

The DO Foundation is looking to replace printers, fax machines, phones and a computer system essential for the work. If you can help, visit www.dofoundation.net to contact them.

"A complete system would be a life saver ... so that we can get back in business," O'Neal said.

He has lived among the homeless, and the DO Foundation reaches out to those in great need.

"We are hoping for some help. We need lots of help now. We've been maintaining things ourselves out of our own pocket, so to reach out to the community to give us a hand, that would be a good thing," O'Neal told us.