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A woman formerly staying at a women’s sobriety home in California allegedly stole a minivan and led a prolonged police chase culminating with her traveling across the international boundary into the nation of Mexico on the start of the week.

Auto Theft Reported 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 stolen, along with her car key. The owner, who operates two female recovery residences, named the alleged thief as one of the residents at a recovery facility in Thousand Oaks, located approximately 60 minutes north-west of Los Angeles.

“The keys were stolen from my house manager’s purse. I arrived right when it was occurring,” she said, adding that the minivan is designated for the facility’s daily operations.

Dramatic Chase Develops Across Several Regions

Authorities tracked the van about 19 kilometers north in Simi Valley, where they attempted to initiate a traffic stop, but the suspect did not comply and sped away. She reached speeds of about 145km/h on the 118 freeway until the pursuit continued into LA County. At that juncture, local sheriff’s deputies handed over the operation to the CHP once the driver merged onto the 405 freeway heading south.

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

Wilson reportedly avoided all the tire-deflation devices tossed on the roadway by authorities, as seen in footage from above.

Cross-Border Escape and Aftermath

The pursuit finally arrived at the international border by 1.30pm, prompting the CHP to end its pursuit due to legal limitations.

Walters stated on Tuesday that the vehicle was located in the Mexican city of Tijuana and that she was working with the authorities to retrieve it.

“Ultimately, I’m not worried about the vehicle,” Walters said. “I’m more at ease knowing she wasn’t hurt. The car is replaceable.”

Insight from the Facility Operator

The sober living home owner, who has operated Diana’s House Sober Living since last October, recognizes that the journey toward sobriety from substance abuse and trauma is not always linear.

“This is a mental health and addiction crisis,” Walters emphasized. “There is a need for additional assistance. It is essential to provide greater resources for those that are facing challenges.”

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