Yogyakarta pawnshops hit Rp 1.3b jackpot
Slamet Susanto, The Jakarta Post, Yogyakarta
State-run pawnshops in Yogyakarta province recorded a sharp increase in the number of customers two weeks before Idul Fitri festivities, with around Rp 1.3 billion (USS152,941) involved in daily transactions.
It was a 30 percent increase from normal transactions of around Rp 1 billion before the Islamic holy month of Ramadhan began, a spokesperson for the Yogyakarta pawnshops Sri Yanti said on Monday.
"Right now it is still not the peak situation yet. A week before Idul Fitri, transactions could reach about Rp 1.75 billion per day," she said, referring to the end of Ramadhan celebrations that officially begin on Nov. 25.
Sri added that through September this year, at least 67 pawnshops in the province recorded 1,460,059 transactions worth Rp 323.64 billion or Rp 35 billion per month on average.
She said over half of the transactions involved jewelry. Other pawned articles included electronic goods and motorcycles.
Most of the customers were university students from outside Yogyakarta, who usually leave for their hometowns during Idul Fitri, she added.
Sri said the students and other customers had to pawn their belongings, in part due to security concerns, because most fear that if they leave things behind they will be stolen.
"They entrust their motorcycles or TV sets to the pawnshops, and get some extra spending money for the trip to their hometowns," she said.
Husodo, branch manager of the Lempuyangan pawnshop, said that his office recorded transactions valued at Rp 2.3 billion per month and around 60 percent of the customers were students.
Hendito Wibowo, 24, a fourth-year student at a private university who hails from Balikpapan, admitted he was a regular pawnshop customer.
He said he pawned his valuables each year ahead of Idul Fitri, saying it was a necessary precaution due to thievery when people were known to be out of town for some time.
"I pawn my goods for only Rp 500,000 for additional pocket money to return to Balikpapan. The most important thing is that I feel secure leaving stuff here," Hendito added.