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A female individual formerly staying at a women’s sobriety home in California reportedly stole a minivan and engaged in a hours-long police chase culminating with her crossing the international boundary into Mexico on the start of the week.

Auto Theft Discovered from Recovery Residence

As stated in a law enforcement announcement, a another female, the owner of the vehicle, 45, notified authorities that her 2004 gray Toyota Sienna was stolen, along with her car key. The owner, who manages two women’s sober living homes, identified the alleged thief 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 house manager’s purse. I arrived right when it was occurring,” Walters stated, adding that the minivan is used for the facility’s daily operations.

High-Speed Pursuit Develops Across Multiple Counties

Authorities tracked the stolen vehicle 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 90mph on the State Route 118 until the chase proceeded into LA County. At that point, Ventura county authorities handed over the pursuit to the California highway patrol once Wilson merged onto the 405 freeway heading south.

“This incident is particularly unusual in the sense of the traffic conditions enabling individuals to continue to remain on the freeway and extend this chase,” commented a spokesperson from the local law enforcement agency.

Wilson reportedly dodged all the spike strips deployed on the roadway by authorities, as seen in footage from above.

Cross-Border Escape and Aftermath

The chase eventually reached the US-Mexico border by 1.30pm, prompting the highway patrol to end its pursuit due to legal limitations.

The vehicle owner stated on Tuesday that the minivan was located in Tijuana, Mexico and that she was working with the authorities to recover the vehicle.

“At the end of the day, I’m not concerned with the car,” she remarked. “I’m more at ease aware 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 addiction and emotional distress is not always linear.

“This is a mental health and substance abuse crisis,” 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 can be messy,” she added.