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A female individual formerly staying at a women’s sobriety home in the state of California reportedly took a stolen van and led a prolonged police chase ending with her traveling across the international boundary into Mexico on Monday.

Vehicle Theft Reported from Sober Living Home

As stated in a law enforcement announcement, a second woman, 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 alleged thief as one of the residents at a recovery facility in Thousand Oaks, located approximately an hour’s drive of LA.

“My keys were stolen from my house manager’s purse. I arrived right when it was occurring,” Walters stated, noting that the minivan is used for the facility’s daily operations.

High-Speed Pursuit Unfolds Across Several Regions

Authorities located the van about 12 miles north in Simi Valley, where they attempted to pull the vehicle over, but Wilson did not comply and sped away. She attained speeds of about 145km/h on the State Route 118 until the pursuit continued into Los Angeles county. At that point, Ventura county authorities transferred the operation to the California highway patrol once Wilson entered the Interstate 405 traveling southbound.

“This one is particularly unusual in the context of the road situation allowing drivers to continue to remain on the highway and prolong this pursuit,” said a public information officer from the local law enforcement agency.

Wilson allegedly avoided all the tire-deflation devices tossed on the road by police, as seen in footage from above.

International Getaway and Aftermath

The chase eventually reached the international border by early afternoon, leading to the CHP to terminate the chase due to jurisdictional constraints.

Walters indicated on Tuesday that the vehicle was situated in Tijuana, Mexico and that she was working with the authorities to retrieve it.

“At the end of the day, I’m not worried about the car,” Walters remarked. “I’m more at ease aware she was not injured. The car is easily substituted.”

Owner’s Perspective

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

“Recovery isn’t always pretty,” Walters concluded.