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A female individual formerly staying at a women’s sobriety home in California allegedly stole a minivan and engaged in a prolonged police chase ending with her crossing the border into Mexico on the start of the week.

Vehicle Theft Discovered from Sober Living Home

As stated in a law enforcement announcement, a second woman, the owner of the vehicle, forty-five years old, reported that her 2004 gray Toyota Sienna was missing, along with her vehicle key. The owner, who operates two female recovery residences, identified the alleged thief as one of the residents at Diana’s House Sober Living, located approximately 60 minutes north-west of LA.

“The keys were stolen out of my manager’s handbag. I arrived right when it was happening,” she said, adding that the vehicle is designated for the sobriety home’s tasks.

Dramatic Chase Develops Across Multiple Counties

Officials tracked the stolen vehicle about 12 miles to the north in a nearby city, where they attempted to pull the vehicle over, but the suspect refused to stop and sped away. She reached speeds of about 90mph on the State Route 118 until the chase proceeded into LA County. At that juncture, Ventura county authorities handed over the pursuit to the California highway patrol once the driver entered the Interstate 405 traveling southbound.

“This incident is very unique in the sense of the road situation enabling drivers to persist on the freeway and extend this chase,” commented a public information officer from the Ventura county sheriff’s office.

The suspect reportedly avoided all the spike strips deployed on the road by authorities, as documented in footage from above.

Cross-Border Escape and Aftermath Developments

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

The vehicle owner indicated on Tuesday that the minivan was situated in Tijuana, Mexico and that she was working with the CHP to retrieve it.

“At the end of the day, I’m not worried about the car,” Walters said. “I’m more at ease knowing she was not injured. The car is replaceable.”

Owner’s Perspective

Walters, who has operated the recovery residence since October 2024, recognizes that the path to recovery from addiction and emotional distress is often non-linear.

“This represents a mental health and substance abuse emergency,” Walters emphasized. “There is a need for more support. We need more resources for those that are facing challenges.”

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