Woodlands woman reopening nation's largest closet for fundraiser

THE WOODLANDS, TX (KTRK) -- Last July, Good Morning America featured the world's largest closet, and it just happens to be in The Woodlands, Texas. The homeowner, Theresa Roemer, knew opening her three-story luxury space to the world was a fun experience, but she had no idea what the exposure would lead to.

After the feature on Roemer's glamorous digs, robbers stole more than $1 million worth of designer handbags and jewelry. Then, they tried to extort her for half a million dollars.

"The sad thing in life is people don't wish good things about people. People wish ill things about people, and I don't know why because I'm not one of those people," says Roemer.

She says her story isn't about a burglary, but it will forever haunt her.

"This police said he probably sat out there every night for a week in the dark just watching," she adds.

On the night of August 1, 2014, she was in a rush and late for dinner. She left her closet door unlocked but set her alarm. Her house was mid-renovation and glass breakage and motion detectors hadn't been installed in her master bedroom, bathroom, or closet. That was the night thieves broke through the master bath window and grabbed her prized belongings.

The news of Roemer's closet heist went nationwide. Days later, she received a phone call from a man who claimed to be the robber.

"Why did he call me? Because the burglary's viral. He's screwed. He can't unload my stuff. So he's like, 'Wow, I'll extort her then. I'll get money for this stuff,'" she said.

After several threatening phone calls asking for money, "I had to live through a sting operation. Five and a half hours not knowing if I could live or die," says Roemer.

That operation was unsuccessful. Then, the items were sent to the press in hopes of extorting half a million dollars that way, but Roemer didn't bite. Since then, she says she's received an update from police.

"They tend to think they're from Houston, and they're gang-related because of where the cell phones have pinged from," says Roemer.

Even with a lead, Roemer wants to clear misconceptions.

"Really? I would have an inside job done so I can go through all this pain and misery? I don't think so," she says.

Some have asked why she hasn't filed an insurance claim.

"Well number one, there's no law that says you have to," she said. "The police and the insurance companies have all of our appraisals and all of our receipts, and so if anyone wants to question if something's real or not, good luck."

For those accusing her of owning knock-off handbags, she says, "Why would I spend half a million dollars on a closet just to stock it full of fake ****? Why? That would make me the dumbest person in the world," she said.

Months have gone by, and still, Roemer waits. She wants to know if the items sent to the press for extortion were hers, especially because of a special locket that holds the hair of her late son. He died in a car accident in 2006.

"They don't tell me anything," she says, admitting up upsetting it is that she can't see or have the locket. "I don't know if I'll ever get that back because now, it's evidence."

So, after all this and no arrests, tomorrow she's opening her doors again. So why would she let people back in?

"Because I'm a woman of my word, and I told everyone this closet was built for fundraising and that's what it's intended for. Why would I let someone who wasn't invited to my home ruin that?"

The event will raise funds for children with cancer for the Kids Need More Camp Adventure, where adolescent cancer patients can have fun and forget about their diagnosis for the week. This is the story Roemer wants to focus on.

"Ever since my son passed away, and I wanted to fill that gaping hole in my heart; it just seems like if I can help kids, it helps fill that void a little bit," she says. "I just feel like my son didn't get his chance to build his legacy in life, so I'm going to do it for him."

Roemer will have security at her event Saturday night and has increased her home security since the incident, as well. We reached out to the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office multiple times for a comment but did not receive a return phone call.