Gift Horse?

[englishqueen]

What is the name of your state? Indiana

I allowed some (so-called) friends to keep their horse on my property under several stipulations, which, over a period of the last few months they have broken each and every one. For my kindness (stupidity) they offered the foal from this horse to thank (jerk) me. When they knew I was gone, they came in the middle of the night and took their horse, and mine. I have receipts for feed and other necessities I bought for their horse. My questions are:

I did file a report for the items they also stole along with my horse. Will they issue a warrant for theft? He wants to bring them back and "everything will be okay", but will not bring my horse back.

He never mentioned he would be moving his horse. If the police look at the horse issue as a civil matter and I file small claims on that issue, is there a possibility that since he broke all ends of our agreement that I can 'break' my agreement and seek board for the time his horse was here? If they separate this as a civil matter on the horse theft, do you think they will go with criminal charges on the other property? It valued over $100.

Are you sure they have ever repealed hangings for horse thieves?

Last, but not least--my receipts for feed span back to October 2004, and since they were inconsistent in their care of their animal, could they be charged with some kind of neglect or whatever?

And I will go ahead and answer this, yes, I am a big sucker. I bought their whole sympathy story and thought I was doing something kind for a friend. Now I am honestly concerned that if they repeat the history they had with me on whoever this next poor sucker is, the animals will suffer. I could not let them go without proper care, and I am worried about what they are going through even now. Can I request the police to check on their welfare or to have a third party do something like make this guy let someone see where and how they are? I am sick--I couldn't even imagine how parents of missing human children feel.