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A female individual formerly staying at a women’s sobriety home in California reportedly stole a minivan and led a hours-long police chase culminating with her traveling across the international boundary into the nation of Mexico on the start of the week.

Vehicle Theft Reported from Sober Living Home

According to a law enforcement announcement, a another female, Nicolle Walters, forty-five years old, reported that her 2004 gray Toyota Sienna was stolen, along with her vehicle key. The owner, who manages two women’s sober living homes, identified the suspect as one of the residents at a recovery facility in Thousand Oaks, located approximately 60 minutes north-west of LA.

“My keys were taken out of my manager’s handbag. I happened to pull up just as it was happening,” Walters stated, adding that the vehicle is used for the sobriety home’s tasks.

Dramatic Chase Develops Across Several Regions

Officials tracked 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 attained speeds of about 145km/h on the State Route 118 until the pursuit proceeded into LA County. At that juncture, local sheriff’s deputies transferred the pursuit to the CHP once the driver entered the Interstate 405 traveling southbound.

“This one is particularly unusual in the sense of the road situation allowing individuals to persist on the freeway and extend this chase,” said a public information officer from the Ventura county sheriff’s office.

The suspect reportedly avoided all the spike strips deployed on the roadway by authorities, as documented in aerial videos.

International Getaway and Aftermath Developments

The chase finally arrived at the international border by early afternoon, prompting the highway patrol to terminate the chase due to legal limitations.

The vehicle owner stated on Tuesday that the vehicle was located in Tijuana, Mexico and that she was coordinating with the authorities to retrieve it.

“Ultimately, I’m not worried about the vehicle,” she said. “I’m relieved aware she wasn’t hurt. The car is easily substituted.”

Insight from the Facility Operator

The sober living home owner, who has operated Diana’s House Sober Living since October 2024, acknowledges that the journey toward sobriety from addiction and trauma is not always linear.

“This is a mental health and substance abuse emergency,” she said. “We need more support. It is essential to provide greater resources for those that are struggling.”

“The recovery process can be messy,” she added.