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A female individual previously residing at a women’s sobriety home in California reportedly took a stolen van and engaged in a hours-long law enforcement pursuit culminating with her traveling across the border into Mexico on Monday.

Vehicle Theft Reported from Recovery Residence

According to a law enforcement announcement, a second woman, the owner of the vehicle, 45, notified authorities that her 2004 gray Toyota Sienna 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 a recovery facility in Thousand Oaks, situated approximately 60 minutes north-west of Los Angeles.

“The keys were stolen out of my house manager’s purse. I happened to pull up just as it was occurring,” Walters stated, noting that the minivan is used for the sobriety home’s tasks.

High-Speed Pursuit Develops Across Multiple Counties

Officials tracked the van about 12 miles north in Simi Valley, where they tried to initiate a traffic stop, but the suspect did not comply and sped away. She attained speeds of about 145km/h on the State Route 118 until the pursuit proceeded into Los Angeles county. At that point, Ventura county authorities handed over the pursuit to the CHP once Wilson entered the 405 freeway traveling southbound.

“This one is very unique in the sense of the traffic conditions enabling individuals to persist on the highway and prolong this chase,” said a public information officer from the local law enforcement agency.

Wilson allegedly dodged all the spike strips tossed on the roadway by authorities, as seen in aerial videos.

Cross-Border Escape and Aftermath Developments

The chase eventually reached the international border by early afternoon, prompting the CHP to end its pursuit due to jurisdictional constraints.

Walters indicated on the following day that the minivan was located in Tijuana, Mexico and that she was coordinating with the CHP to retrieve it.

“At the end of the day, I’m not concerned with the car,” Walters said. “I’m relieved knowing she was not injured. The minivan is replaceable.”

Owner’s Perspective

The sober living home owner, who has operated the recovery residence since October 2024, acknowledges that the path to recovery from substance abuse and trauma is often non-linear.

“This represents a mental health and addiction emergency,” she said. “We need more support. It is essential to provide more resources for those that are struggling.”

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