Elmer Crawford was away on Long Island, N.Y., last year on March 15 when neighbors spotted lights in his house. The called the Sheriff's department, and a police dog sniffed out two 16-year-old boys hiding in Crawford's attic. 

The intruders were searched, and deputies found $660 stuffed in the pockets of one of the boys. They were charged with burglary, and the case was sent to the state attorney's office for prosecution. 

When Crawford returned home he found that $500 he had left in a folder in a cedar chest was gone. He filed a report with the sheriff's office, which sent it on to the state attorney. After a while, Crawford began to wonder what happened to the burglars and his money. He started asking questions. 

He learned that a public defender had represented the burglars and that the state attorney's office had dropped charges on May 11, after it had lost Crawford's report and the 45-day legal deadline for prosecuting the juveniles had passed. 

Okay, bad enough the burglars got off scott-free, but there still was the matter of his money. Crawford visited the sheriff's department and was informed his money had already been picked up. Sure enough, ajudge had issued an order to return the money to the youth found carrying it.

The burglars, captured committing a criminal act, were not prosecuted, so in the eyes of the law they weren't guilty. The money the boy had when he was caught belonged to him, not Crawford. 

Crawford filed suit to get his $500 back, plus another $400 for expenses. The system got him again. The case was dismissed. At this point he feels there is nothing left to do. "I give up," he says.