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A female individual previously residing at a female recovery facility in California allegedly stole a minivan and led a hours-long law enforcement pursuit culminating with her crossing the border into Mexico on Monday.

Vehicle Theft Discovered from Recovery Residence

According to a police announcement, a another female, the owner of the vehicle, 45, reported that her gray minivan from 2004 was missing, along with her car key. The owner, who manages two women’s sober living homes, identified the alleged thief as one of the residents at a recovery facility in Thousand Oaks, located approximately 60 minutes north-west of Los Angeles.

“The keys were stolen out of my house manager’s purse. I arrived right when it was occurring,” she said, noting that the vehicle is used for the facility’s daily operations.

Dramatic Chase Develops Across Several Regions

Authorities located the van about 12 miles to the north in a nearby city, where they tried to initiate a traffic stop, but the suspect did not comply and accelerated rapidly. She attained speeds of about 90mph on the 118 freeway until the chase continued into LA County. At that point, Ventura county authorities handed over the pursuit to the California highway patrol once the driver merged onto the Interstate 405 traveling southbound.

“This one is very unique in the sense of the traffic conditions allowing drivers to continue to remain on the highway and extend this chase,” commented a public information officer from the Ventura county sheriff’s office.

The suspect reportedly dodged all the tire-deflation devices tossed on the roadway by police, as seen in footage from above.

International Getaway and Aftermath

The pursuit eventually reached the international border by early afternoon, prompting the highway patrol to end its pursuit 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 authorities to retrieve it.

“Ultimately, I’m not concerned with the vehicle,” Walters remarked. “I’m relieved knowing she was not injured. The car is replaceable.”

Owner’s Perspective

Walters, who has operated Diana’s House Sober Living since October 2024, recognizes that the path to recovery from addiction and emotional distress is often non-linear.

“This represents a psychological and substance abuse crisis,” she said. “There is a need for more support. We need greater resources for those that are facing challenges.”

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