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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 culminating with her traveling across the border into the nation of Mexico on the start of the week.

Vehicle Theft Reported from Sober Living Home

As stated in a police statement, a another female, the owner of the vehicle, forty-five years old, reported that her 2004 gray Toyota Sienna was missing, along with her car key. Walters, who operates two women’s sober living homes, identified 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 manager’s handbag. I arrived right when it was happening,” Walters stated, adding that the vehicle is designated for the facility’s daily operations.

High-Speed Pursuit Unfolds Across Several Regions

Authorities located the van about 12 miles to the north in Simi Valley, where they tried to pull the vehicle over, but Wilson did not comply and sped away. She attained speeds of about 90mph on the 118 freeway until the chase proceeded into LA County. At that juncture, Ventura county authorities handed over the operation to the CHP once Wilson merged onto the 405 freeway traveling southbound.

“This incident is particularly unusual in the sense of the traffic conditions allowing individuals to persist on the freeway and extend this pursuit,” said a spokesperson from the local law enforcement agency.

The suspect allegedly dodged all the spike strips deployed on the road by police, as seen in aerial videos.

Cross-Border Escape and Aftermath

The pursuit eventually reached the US-Mexico border by early afternoon, leading to the CHP to terminate the chase due to legal limitations.

The vehicle owner stated on the following day that the vehicle was situated in the Mexican city of Tijuana and that she was coordinating with the authorities to recover the vehicle.

“Ultimately, I’m not worried about the vehicle,” Walters said. “I’m more at ease knowing she wasn’t hurt. The car is replaceable.”

Owner’s Perspective

The sober living home owner, who has run the recovery residence since October 2024, recognizes that the journey toward sobriety from substance abuse and emotional distress is often non-linear.

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

“Recovery can be messy,” Walters concluded.