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A female individual previously residing at a women’s sobriety home in California allegedly took a stolen van and led a hours-long law enforcement pursuit culminating with her traveling across the border into the nation of 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 missing, along with her car key. The owner, who operates two female recovery residences, named the alleged thief as one of the residents at Diana’s House Sober Living, situated approximately an hour’s drive of LA.

“My keys were stolen out of my house manager’s purse. I happened to pull up just as it was happening,” Walters stated, adding that the vehicle is used for the facility’s daily operations.

Dramatic Chase Develops Across Several Regions

Authorities tracked the van about 12 miles 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 145km/h on the State Route 118 until the pursuit continued into LA County. At that juncture, local sheriff’s deputies transferred the pursuit to the California highway patrol once Wilson entered the 405 freeway traveling southbound.

“This one is particularly unusual in the sense of the road situation allowing drivers to continue to remain on the highway and extend this chase,” said a spokesperson from the Ventura county sheriff’s office.

Wilson reportedly dodged all the tire-deflation devices tossed on the roadway by police, as documented in aerial videos.

International Getaway and Aftermath Developments

The pursuit finally arrived at the international border by 1.30pm, prompting the highway patrol to end its pursuit due to jurisdictional constraints.

Walters stated on the following day that the vehicle was located in the Mexican city of Tijuana and that she was coordinating with the authorities to retrieve it.

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

Owner’s Perspective

Walters, who has run Diana’s House Sober Living since October 2024, acknowledges that the path to recovery from addiction and trauma is often non-linear.

“This is a psychological and substance abuse crisis,” Walters emphasized. “We need additional assistance. We need more resources for those that are struggling.”

“The recovery process can be messy,” she added.