DVD shops have been among the few places cashing in since the outbreak of street violence more than two weeks ago, which prompted a security crackdown by authorities.

As malls and restaurants remained empty, people were opting to spend their free time indoors watching TV shows and movies on DVD.

Stores in Gudaibiya, Riffa and Manama say that sales have been increasing due to regular visits from customers.

"Many Indians, Filipinos and Bahraini customers have been buying my DVDs because they don't go out," an Indian salesman based in Gudaibiya told the Gulf Daily News, our sister publication.

"Usually people take three or four at one time, but when I open my shop these days they take 10 or more because they watch TV serials and movies and don't go outside.

"They watch them from home or go to their friend's places to relax because they don't want to go to the malls to watch new movies."

Comedy DVDs are the top choice at a store in Riffa, according to a salesman.

Some people have been buying five or six DVDs at a time, while regular customers would buy two or three movies during each visit, he said.

"Many of the customers are regular, so when they come to my shop, they like to take only a few movies," said the salesman who didn't want to be named.

"But they come to my shop every other day to see if I have new movies. They like to take comedy movies and action movies as well."

An Indian customer who visited a Manama store took home 26 DVDs at one time, a salesman told the GDN.

"He came with his friend and they went through all the files and took lots of movies," said the salesman. "I think they wanted to watch movies at home because it is safe and they don't want to go out anywhere," he added.-TradeArabia News Service