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A woman formerly staying at a female recovery facility in California allegedly stole a minivan and led a prolonged law enforcement pursuit ending with her traveling across the border into the nation of Mexico on the start of the week.

Auto Theft Discovered from Sober Living Home

According to a law enforcement announcement, a another female, the owner of the vehicle, 45, reported that her gray minivan from 2004 was missing, along with her car key. Walters, who operates two women’s sober living homes, named the alleged thief as one of the residents at a recovery facility in Thousand Oaks, situated approximately 60 minutes north-west of LA.

“My keys were stolen from my house manager’s purse. I arrived right when it was occurring,” Walters stated, noting that the vehicle is designated for the facility’s daily operations.

Dramatic Chase Unfolds Across Multiple Counties

Officials tracked the van about 12 miles to the north in Simi Valley, where they tried to initiate a traffic stop, but the suspect refused to stop and sped away. She reached speeds of about 90mph on the State Route 118 until the pursuit proceeded into Los Angeles county. At that juncture, Ventura county authorities transferred the operation to the CHP once Wilson entered the 405 freeway heading south.

“This incident is particularly unusual in the sense of the road situation enabling individuals to persist on the highway and extend this chase,” said a public information officer from the local law enforcement agency.

The suspect allegedly dodged all the spike strips tossed on the roadway by police, as seen in aerial videos.

Cross-Border Escape and Aftermath

The chase eventually reached the US-Mexico border by 1.30pm, leading to the highway patrol to end its pursuit due to jurisdictional constraints.

The vehicle owner stated on Tuesday that the vehicle was located in Tijuana, Mexico and that she was working with the CHP to retrieve it.

“Ultimately, I’m not worried about the vehicle,” Walters said. “I’m more at ease knowing she was not injured. The minivan is replaceable.”

Insight from the Facility Operator

Walters, who has run the recovery residence since October 2024, acknowledges that the journey toward sobriety from addiction and emotional distress is not always linear.

“This represents a mental health and substance abuse emergency,” Walters emphasized. “There is a need for additional assistance. It is essential to provide more resources for those that are facing challenges.”

“The recovery process isn’t always pretty,” Walters concluded.