Would you trust a stranger who came knocking on your door?

One elderly Mishawaka woman says she won't anymore!

85-year-old Ida Madou was home alone when a man came to her door claiming his father’s business redid her roof a few years ago. She let the man in her home to check for possible leaks and left.

A few hours later, her son came to check on her. He noticed a safe, that had been in the basement for more than 20-years was gone.

So were memories of her husband, who died in 2002. The safe contains two annual sets, of Canadian and U.S. mint coins from the early 70's and 80's, other foreign currency that were purchased and collected by her late husband.

"It's irreplaceable from a value standpoint. You can't go out and get these, especially because my dad has passed. And that it was what he did this every Christmas," Ida’s son, Kevin Madou tells NewsCenter 16.

Mishawaka police say Ida was scammed, and the man who came knocking at her door was probably not alone. He was most likely a diversion to keep her busy while another rummaged through her belongings.

Ida says during the more than half century she’s lived at her Mishawaka home, this is the first time she can remember something like this happening in her neighborhood.

“You cant judge people by their looks. you have to not trust everybody, and I’ve been told not let anyone in the house," Ida tells us.

In addition to the currency, the safe contained savings bonds and stock certificates. The value of everything in the safe has yet to be determined.

The family is offering a one-thousand dollar reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction of the thieves.

If you have any information, call Mishawaka police at 258-1678.