Paperwork containing the personal information of clients at a shuttered David Barton Gym in downtown Manhattan was found strewn across the heavily-trafficked streets in the area Thursday.
News 4 cameras exclusively captured photocopies of identification cards, passports and visa information that had apparently been submitted with gym waivers for the luxury fitness chain.
The documents were out in plain sight blowing across the street from the closed gym's Astor Place location Thursday.
As some members have been allowed collect their personal belongings, the discovery has made people uneasy about the fitness chain's carelessness with sensitive information.
East Village resident Jordan Terry calls the mishap "extremely disturbing" and says he couldn't imagine having his personal details available for all to see without his knowledge.
"I can't remember a time where I saw information strewn about the street, but if that's something people are gonna do -- employees, members, or owners -- that's a whole new level of worry we have to think about," he said.
David Barton Gym declined to comment.
David Barton gyms across the city suddenly shut down in December, leaving members in the lurch. The company has said that market factors made it necessary for them to close for good.
Local
The New York attorney general's office is suing the parent company of David Barton Gyms, Club Ventures LLC, alleging that more than 5,000 members paid up to thousands of dollars in advance for membership and training packages.
The gym failed to give advance notice to staff and gym goers that they were going to close before they filed for bankruptcy and even continued to promote itself on social media two days before it closed, Attorney General Eric Schneiderman alleged. His office is seeking full restitution and an accounting of whom the health club owes money.
