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A female individual previously residing at a female recovery facility in California reportedly took a stolen van and led a hours-long law enforcement pursuit culminating with her traveling across the international boundary into Mexico on Monday.

Vehicle Theft Reported from Sober Living Home

According to a law enforcement statement, a second woman, the owner of the vehicle, 45, notified authorities that her gray minivan from 2004 was stolen, along with her vehicle key. Walters, who manages two female recovery residences, identified the alleged thief as one of the residents at a recovery facility in Thousand Oaks, located approximately 60 minutes north-west of LA.

“My keys were taken from my house manager’s purse. I happened to pull up just as it was occurring,” she said, adding that the minivan is designated for the facility’s daily operations.

High-Speed Pursuit Develops Across Multiple Counties

Officials located the van about 12 miles to the north in Simi Valley, where they attempted to initiate a traffic stop, but the suspect refused to stop and accelerated rapidly. She reached speeds of about 90mph on the 118 freeway until the pursuit continued into Los Angeles county. At that juncture, Ventura county authorities transferred the pursuit to the CHP once the driver entered the Interstate 405 heading south.

“This incident is particularly unusual in the sense of the traffic conditions allowing drivers to continue to remain on the highway and prolong this chase,” commented a spokesperson from the local law enforcement agency.

The suspect allegedly dodged all the spike strips tossed on the roadway by police, as documented in footage from above.

Cross-Border Escape and Aftermath

The pursuit eventually reached the international border by 1.30pm, prompting the highway patrol to terminate the chase due to legal limitations.

The vehicle owner indicated on the following day that the minivan was located in the Mexican city of Tijuana and that she was coordinating with the CHP to recover the vehicle.

“Ultimately, I’m not concerned with the car,” Walters remarked. “I’m relieved aware she wasn’t hurt. The car is easily substituted.”

Owner’s Perspective

Walters, 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 represents a mental health and substance abuse emergency,” she said. “There is a need for more support. We need more resources for those that are struggling.”

“The recovery process isn’t always pretty,” Walters concluded.