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A woman formerly staying at a women’s sobriety home in California reportedly stole a minivan and led a prolonged law enforcement pursuit ending with her traveling across the international boundary into Mexico on Monday.

Vehicle Theft Discovered from Sober Living Home

According to a law enforcement statement, a second woman, the owner of the vehicle, 45, reported that her gray minivan from 2004 was stolen, along with her vehicle key. Walters, who operates two women’s sober living homes, named the suspect as one of the residents at a recovery facility in Thousand Oaks, located approximately 60 minutes north-west of LA.

“The keys were taken out of my house manager’s purse. I arrived just as it was occurring,” Walters stated, noting that the minivan is designated for the facility’s daily operations.

Dramatic Chase Develops Across Several Regions

Officials tracked the stolen vehicle about 12 miles to the north in Simi Valley, where they attempted to initiate a traffic stop, but the suspect refused to stop and sped away. She reached speeds of about 145km/h on the State Route 118 until the pursuit continued into LA County. At that point, Ventura county authorities transferred the pursuit to the CHP once Wilson entered the 405 freeway heading south.

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

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 Developments

The chase finally arrived at the international border by 1.30pm, prompting the CHP to terminate the chase 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.

“At the end of the day, I’m not concerned with the vehicle,” she said. “I’m relieved knowing she wasn’t hurt. The minivan is easily substituted.”

Owner’s Perspective

Walters, who has operated the recovery residence since last October, acknowledges that the journey toward sobriety from substance abuse and trauma is not always linear.

“This is a psychological and substance abuse crisis,” she said. “We need more support. We need more resources for those that are struggling.”

“Recovery isn’t always pretty,” she added.