BLOOMINGTON - Got diamonds? Don't flush them down the toilet. State Farm Insurance Cos. agent Maggi Pratt has seen it happen to holiday baubles. Unfortunately, that type of accident isn't covered by standard homeowners' insurance.

"Strange things happen to rings. Some have gone down drains. Some have gone done toilets. The garbage disposal's a great one. It's a crazy-claims world," she said.

Strange things happen to a lot of gifts, so people may want to add insurance to their post-holiday shopping lists.

One policyholder broke a strand of pearls, Pratt said. Not covered. Another dropped a television. Not covered.

While standard policies limit coverage to theft, fire and other well-defined damages, policyholders can buy additional coverage to protect against clumsiness.

A standard State Farm homeowners' policy covers up to $2,500 worth of jewelry, Pratt said. The most State Farm will pay for one item is $1,500, she said. An additional $3,000 coverage for jewelry, for example, cost $30 a year, Pratt said.

At Allstate, coverage varies, hovering around $1,500 but more is available at a cost, said Bloomington agent Mike "Rudy" Rudicil.

Policyholders can insure all kinds of big-ticket gifts found under the tree: musical instruments, cell phones, computers, cameras, paintings, firearms, furs and others, he said.

"It requires an appraisal and there's an extra charge for that," Rudicil said.

Each item also carries a different premium for coverage, Pratt said.

"Telephones are more expensive (to cover than jewelry) because of the claims history," she said. "People drive away with them on the hood of their car all the time."

Even if policyholders don't purchase added insurance, Pratt and Rudicil said they should take interior pictures throughout their homes to update their inventory of stuff.

"It is virtually impossible to remember every item in every room," Rudicil said.