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A female individual previously residing at a women’s sobriety home in California reportedly took a stolen van and engaged in a hours-long police chase culminating with her traveling across the international boundary into Mexico on Monday.

Auto Theft Reported from Recovery Residence

As stated in a law enforcement statement, a another female, the owner of the vehicle, 45, reported that her 2004 gray Toyota Sienna was missing, along with her car key. The owner, who operates two female recovery residences, named the suspect as one of the residents at a recovery facility in Thousand Oaks, situated approximately an hour’s drive of Los Angeles.

“My keys were stolen out of my manager’s handbag. I arrived just as it was happening,” Walters stated, adding that the minivan is used for the facility’s daily operations.

High-Speed Pursuit Develops Across Several Regions

Authorities located the van about 19 kilometers north in Simi Valley, where they tried to initiate a traffic stop, but the suspect did not comply and accelerated rapidly. She attained speeds of about 145km/h on the 118 freeway until the chase continued into Los Angeles county. At that juncture, Ventura county authorities transferred the pursuit to the CHP once the driver entered the Interstate 405 traveling southbound.

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

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

International Getaway and Aftermath

The chase eventually reached the international border by early afternoon, leading to the highway patrol to terminate the chase due to jurisdictional constraints.

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

“Ultimately, I’m not worried about the car,” she said. “I’m relieved knowing she was not injured. The minivan is easily substituted.”

Owner’s Perspective

The sober living home owner, who has operated Diana’s House Sober Living since last October, recognizes that the journey toward sobriety from substance abuse and trauma is not always linear.

“This is a psychological and addiction emergency,” Walters emphasized. “There is a need for additional assistance. It is essential to provide more resources for those that are struggling.”

“Recovery isn’t always pretty,” Walters concluded.