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A woman previously residing at a female recovery facility in California reportedly stole a minivan and engaged in a prolonged law enforcement pursuit ending with her traveling across the international boundary into the nation of Mexico on Monday.

Auto Theft Discovered from Sober Living Home

According to a police statement, a second woman, the owner of the vehicle, forty-five years old, reported that her gray minivan from 2004 was missing, along with her vehicle key. The owner, who manages two women’s sober living homes, identified the suspect as one of the residents at Diana’s House Sober Living, situated approximately 60 minutes north-west of Los Angeles.

“My keys were stolen from my manager’s handbag. I happened to pull up just as it was happening,” Walters stated, adding that the vehicle is designated for the sobriety home’s tasks.

High-Speed Pursuit Develops Across Multiple Counties

Authorities located the van about 12 miles to the north in Simi Valley, where they tried to pull the vehicle over, but the suspect did not comply and accelerated rapidly. She reached speeds of about 145km/h on the 118 freeway until the chase continued into LA County. At that juncture, Ventura county authorities transferred the operation to the California highway patrol once Wilson merged onto the Interstate 405 heading south.

“This one is very unique in the sense of the road situation allowing drivers to persist on the freeway and prolong this pursuit,” said a spokesperson from the Ventura county sheriff’s office.

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

International Getaway and Aftermath

The chase finally arrived at the international border by early afternoon, prompting the CHP to end its pursuit due to legal limitations.

The vehicle owner indicated on the following day that the vehicle was situated in the Mexican city of Tijuana and that she was coordinating with the CHP to retrieve it.

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

Insight from the Facility Operator

The sober living home owner, who has operated the recovery residence since October 2024, recognizes that the journey toward sobriety from addiction and trauma is often non-linear.

“This represents a psychological and addiction crisis,” Walters emphasized. “We need additional assistance. We need greater resources for those that are facing challenges.”

“The recovery process isn’t always pretty,” she added.