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A woman previously residing at a women’s sobriety home in California reportedly stole a minivan and engaged in a hours-long law enforcement pursuit ending with her crossing the international boundary into the nation of Mexico on the start of the week.

Auto Theft Discovered from Recovery Residence

According to a law enforcement announcement, a second woman, the owner of the vehicle, forty-five years old, reported that her gray minivan from 2004 was missing, along with her vehicle key. Walters, who operates two female recovery residences, named the alleged thief as one of the residents at Diana’s House Sober Living, located approximately an hour’s drive of LA.

“My keys were taken from my house manager’s purse. I arrived right when it was happening,” Walters stated, adding that the vehicle is designated for the sobriety home’s tasks.

Dramatic Chase Develops Across Multiple Counties

Officials located the stolen vehicle about 19 kilometers north in Simi Valley, where they tried to initiate a traffic stop, but the suspect refused to stop and accelerated rapidly. She reached speeds of about 145km/h on the 118 freeway until the pursuit continued into Los Angeles county. At that point, Ventura county authorities handed over the operation to the California highway patrol once the driver merged onto the 405 freeway traveling southbound.

“This one is particularly unusual in the context of the traffic conditions enabling drivers to persist on the highway and prolong this chase,” commented a spokesperson from the Ventura county sheriff’s office.

The suspect allegedly avoided all the tire-deflation devices deployed on the road by police, as documented in aerial videos.

Cross-Border Escape and Aftermath

The chase eventually reached the international border by early afternoon, leading to the CHP to end its pursuit due to legal limitations.

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

“At the end of the day, I’m not concerned with the car,” Walters said. “I’m more at ease aware she wasn’t hurt. The car is easily substituted.”

Owner’s Perspective

The sober living home owner, who has run Diana’s House Sober Living since last October, recognizes that the journey toward sobriety from substance abuse and emotional distress is often non-linear.

“This represents a mental health and substance abuse crisis,” Walters emphasized. “There is a need for more support. We need greater resources for those that are struggling.”

“Recovery can be messy,” Walters concluded.