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A woman formerly staying at a women’s sobriety home in the state of California reportedly stole a minivan and led a hours-long law enforcement pursuit ending with her traveling across the international boundary into Mexico on Monday.

Vehicle Theft Reported from Sober Living Home

As stated in a law enforcement statement, a second woman, the owner of the vehicle, forty-five years old, reported that her gray minivan from 2004 was missing, along with her car key. The owner, who manages two female recovery residences, named the alleged thief as one of the residents at a recovery facility in Thousand Oaks, located approximately an hour’s drive of Los Angeles.

“My keys were taken from my manager’s handbag. I happened to pull up just as it was happening,” she said, noting that the minivan is used for the sobriety home’s tasks.

Dramatic Chase Develops Across Several Regions

Authorities tracked the van about 19 kilometers to the north in a nearby city, where they attempted to initiate a traffic stop, but Wilson did not comply and sped away. She reached speeds of about 145km/h on the 118 freeway until the pursuit proceeded into Los Angeles county. At that juncture, local sheriff’s deputies transferred the pursuit to the California highway patrol once Wilson entered the Interstate 405 heading south.

“This incident is particularly unusual in the context of the traffic conditions enabling individuals to continue to remain on the highway and prolong this pursuit,” said a public information officer from the Ventura county sheriff’s office.

Wilson allegedly avoided all the tire-deflation devices tossed on the road by authorities, as seen in aerial videos.

International Getaway and Aftermath

The chase finally arrived at the US-Mexico border by 1.30pm, prompting the CHP to terminate the chase due to legal limitations.

Walters stated on Tuesday that the minivan was situated in Tijuana, Mexico and that she was coordinating with the authorities to recover the vehicle.

“At the end of the day, I’m not worried about the vehicle,” Walters remarked. “I’m relieved aware she was not injured. The minivan is replaceable.”

Insight from the Facility Operator

Walters, who has operated Diana’s House Sober Living since October 2024, recognizes that the journey toward sobriety from addiction and trauma is not always linear.

“This represents a psychological and addiction crisis,” Walters emphasized. “We need more support. It is essential to provide greater resources for those that are struggling.”

“Recovery can be messy,” she added.