RALEIGH, N.C. -- Pawn shops throughout the Triangle are reporting an increase in customers due to high gas prices.

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Charles Boyette owns a pawn shop in Raleigh and said people come in all the time looking to sell jewelry and antiques.

 

"The biggest increase is people bringing in broken jewelry that they've been holding onto," said Boyette.

 

Dennis Lanio lives in Raleigh and said he's considering selling some family heirlooms to get money to pay for gas.

 

"I had some antique watched and cameras with that intention (to sell) to keep up with the price of food and gas," he said.

 

But Boyette said the biggest money-maker these days is gold. It's going for $864 an ounce.

 

"Gold is high, it's a good time to sell gold," said Boyette. "Gas is high and that's what you need in your tank."

 

A few miles away, American Pawn-D-Rosa is seeing the spike in customers, too.

 

"The main thing on people's minds is gas," said Eric, who owns the store but didn't want to give his last name.

 

 He said people are bringing in all kinds of electronics from DVD's to TV's.

 

"From last year alone, (business) is up triple," he said.

 

Meanwhile, Lanio said he's just trying to get by, hoping high gas prices won't cause him to sell his family antiques.

 

"These are things I don't really want to get rid of," he said. "They've been in my family for years."