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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 prolonged law enforcement pursuit ending with her traveling across the international boundary into Mexico on the start of the week.

Auto Theft Reported from Recovery Residence

According to a police announcement, a another female, the owner of the vehicle, 45, notified authorities that her gray minivan from 2004 was stolen, along with her car key. Walters, who operates two women’s sober living homes, named the alleged thief as one of the residents at a recovery facility in Thousand Oaks, situated approximately an hour’s drive of Los Angeles.

“My keys were stolen from my house manager’s purse. I happened to pull up just as it was happening,” Walters stated, noting that the minivan is designated for the sobriety home’s tasks.

Dramatic Chase Unfolds Across Multiple Counties

Officials tracked the van about 19 kilometers to the north in Simi Valley, where they attempted to initiate a traffic stop, but the suspect refused to stop and accelerated rapidly. She attained speeds of about 90mph on the 118 freeway until the pursuit continued into Los Angeles county. At that point, local sheriff’s deputies transferred the pursuit to the California highway patrol once the driver merged onto the 405 freeway heading south.

“This incident is particularly unusual in the context of the road situation allowing individuals to continue to remain on the freeway and extend this chase,” commented a spokesperson from the Ventura county sheriff’s office.

The suspect reportedly dodged all the tire-deflation devices tossed on the road by police, as documented in aerial videos.

Cross-Border Escape and Aftermath

The pursuit eventually reached the international border by 1.30pm, leading to the highway patrol to end its pursuit due to jurisdictional constraints.

Walters stated on Tuesday that the vehicle was situated in the Mexican city of Tijuana and that she was working with the CHP to recover the vehicle.

“At the end of the day, I’m not concerned with the car,” Walters remarked. “I’m relieved aware she was not injured. The car is easily substituted.”

Owner’s Perspective

The sober living home owner, who has operated Diana’s House Sober Living since last October, recognizes that the journey toward sobriety from substance abuse and trauma is not always linear.

“This is a mental health and addiction crisis,” she said. “There is a need for additional assistance. We need more resources for those that are struggling.”

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