2 Investigators

CBS 2 Investigations Get Results

(CBS) During the past year, the CBS 2 Investigators have helped expose security problems that could put you in danger and fraudulent practices that could cheat you out of property, money and even your identity. The 2 Investigators even prompted federal investigations and arrests.

Here are some of the stories the 2 Investigators covered in 2007:

Fly At Your Own Risk
CBS 2's Dave Savini discovered the biggest security breach of its kind happening at O'Hare International Airport.

Employees at the airport use ID badges to get into secure areas. We used hidden cameras to show how poor tracking of these badges can mean a threat to homeland security and to passengers.

After the story aired last February, federal investigators began probing the issue of the missing badges and that led to dozens of arrests. Also, state and federal lawmakers held hearings on the security breech.
Fly At Your Own Risk: Mishandled Threats On Planes
Fly At Your Own Risk: A Hole In Airport Security
Lawmakers Take Action On O'Hare Security Risks
State Lawmakers Begin Hearings On O'Hare Risks
TSA Reacts To Airport Security Gaps Investigation
Second Airline Employee Blows Whistle On Security

The Identity Theft Sting
The justice department announced that it had dismantled an international counterfeit ID business operating in Chicago for more than a decade. It started with an investigation by CBS 2's Pam Zekman.

Twenty three people were arrested for their roll in the business that made at least $2.5 million a year. The CBS 2 Investigators first began reporting on them in 2006 in an undercover investigation.
 Phony ID Scam Reported More Than 1 Year Ago
 Avoid Becoming A Victim Of The Credit Con

Filthy Food
In August, Dave Savini got tips about trucks with no refrigeration transporting and exposing beef, turkey and pork to the danger of thawing and contamination.

The 2 Investigators followed those loads and other shipments and found a trail of filthy food with no inspectors to protect us. This is food that could be on your table now.
 Filthy Food: Serious Meat Safety Violations

Scrapped
Your car is legally parked and then completely disappears, but as Pam Zekman discovered, it's not what you typically think of as an auto theft. The 2 Investigators found cars being stolen and scrapped by tow truck drivers in a scam that is costing millions of dollars a year in losses to you and insurance companies.

There was an investigation after our story aired, and last month the Chicago police announced charges were filed against 21 people they captured on videotape using their license to tow as a license to steal.
 Cops Nab Car Thieves Who Used Tow Trucks
 Scrapped: Cars Stolen And Sold To The Junkyard

ComEd Exposed
The 2 Investigator's discovered live power lines dropping in backyards and the danger of old and decrepit electrical poles. ComEd officials apologized and began fixing the problems.
 ComEd Exposed: Falling Power Lines Pose Dangers

Out of Order
Broken and low pressure fire hydrants were repaired after the 2 Investigators exposed their danger. Additionally, one-third of hydrants tested in 70 local communities failed to meet recommended standards.
 Out Of Order: Broken Fire Hydrants Threaten Safety

Paralyzed at the Pump
CBS 2 uncovered gas stations that were supposed to help drivers with disabilities fill up but were not doing it.
 Drivers With Disabilities Paralyzed At The Pump

Cheating the CTA
The 2 Investigators went undercover to show you how hustlers cheat the financially strapped CTA by illegally selling fare cards at reduced rates--and putting cash in their own pockets.
 Cheating The CTA: Illegal Sale Of Fare Cards

Flooded
The 2 Investigators revealed why thousands of homeowners still endure devastating floods because the city failed to properly implement its $75 million rain blocker plan.
 City's Mistakes May Be Causing More Home Floods

Dental Deception
The 2 Investigators uncovered a dental deception in the city and suburbs that left thousands of patients toothless or paying off loans for work that was not done.
 Dental Clinic Left Patients Toothless And In Debt

Accident Chasers
CBS 2 Investigators kept the heat on the accident chasers -- towing companies that hold cars hostage until owners pay outrageous fees. As a result of our Accident Chasers stories the state legislature passed a new law that will license and regulate the practices of towing companies that remove cars from accident scenes.
 New State Towing Regulations Curb Accident Chasers
 Accident Chasers Rack Up Inflated Towing Fees

Hiding Homicides
These stories resulted in the Chicago Police Department implementing reforms to ensure that cases are properly classified and thoroughly investigated.
 Police Admit Some Homicides Are Misclassified
 Are Police Hiding Homicides To Lower Murder Rate?

Many of the CBS 2 investigations start with tips from you, our viewers. If you have something you'd like us to check out you can contact the 2 Investigators here.

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