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A female individual previously residing at a female recovery facility in the state of California allegedly stole a minivan and led a hours-long police chase culminating with her crossing the international boundary into Mexico on Monday.

Vehicle Theft Reported from Sober Living Home

According to a police 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 car key. Walters, who operates 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 LA.

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

Dramatic Chase Develops Across Multiple Counties

Authorities tracked the van about 19 kilometers north in a nearby city, where they tried to initiate a traffic stop, but Wilson did not comply and accelerated rapidly. She attained speeds of about 145km/h on the State Route 118 until the chase proceeded into Los Angeles county. At that juncture, Ventura county authorities transferred the pursuit to the California highway patrol once the driver entered the 405 freeway heading south.

“This one is particularly unusual in the sense of the traffic conditions enabling drivers to continue to remain on the highway and prolong this pursuit,” said a spokesperson from the local law enforcement agency.

Wilson allegedly dodged all the tire-deflation devices tossed on the roadway by authorities, as seen in footage from above.

Cross-Border Escape and Aftermath

The chase finally arrived at the international border by early afternoon, leading to the highway patrol to end its pursuit due to legal limitations.

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

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

Owner’s Perspective

Walters, who has run the recovery residence since last October, recognizes that the journey toward sobriety from substance abuse and emotional distress is not always linear.

“This is a mental health and substance abuse crisis,” 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.