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A female individual previously residing at a women’s sobriety home in California reportedly stole a minivan and engaged in a hours-long police chase ending with her traveling across the international boundary into the nation of Mexico on the start of the week.

Auto Theft Discovered from Recovery Residence

As stated in a police statement, a another female, the owner of the vehicle, forty-five years old, reported that her gray minivan from 2004 was stolen, along with her vehicle key. The owner, who manages two female recovery residences, identified the suspect as one of the residents at a recovery facility in Thousand Oaks, located approximately an hour’s drive of LA.

“The keys were stolen out of my house manager’s purse. I arrived just as it was happening,” Walters stated, noting that the vehicle is used for the sobriety home’s tasks.

High-Speed Pursuit Unfolds Across Multiple Counties

Authorities tracked the van about 19 kilometers north in a nearby city, where they tried to initiate a traffic stop, but the suspect refused to stop and sped away. She attained speeds of about 145km/h on the State Route 118 until the chase continued into Los Angeles county. At that point, Ventura county authorities handed over the operation to the California highway patrol once the driver entered the Interstate 405 traveling southbound.

“This incident is very unique in the sense of the road situation enabling individuals to continue to remain on the highway and prolong this pursuit,” said a spokesperson from the local law enforcement agency.

Wilson reportedly dodged all the tire-deflation devices deployed on the road by police, as seen in aerial videos.

Cross-Border Escape and Aftermath Developments

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

Walters stated on Tuesday that the minivan was located in the Mexican city of Tijuana and that she was coordinating with the authorities to recover the vehicle.

“At the end of the day, I’m not worried about the vehicle,” she remarked. “I’m more at ease aware she wasn’t hurt. The minivan is replaceable.”

Owner’s Perspective

The sober living home owner, who has run the recovery residence since last October, recognizes that the path to recovery from substance abuse and emotional distress is not always linear.

“This is a psychological and substance abuse crisis,” she said. “There is a need for additional assistance. We need more resources for those that are facing challenges.”

“The recovery process can be messy,” she added.