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A woman formerly staying at a female recovery facility in California reportedly stole a minivan and engaged in a prolonged law enforcement pursuit culminating with her traveling across the border into Mexico on Monday.

Vehicle Theft Reported from Recovery Residence

According to a police statement, a another female, the owner of the vehicle, forty-five years old, reported that her 2004 gray Toyota Sienna was stolen, along with her vehicle key. Walters, who operates 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 from my house manager’s purse. I arrived just as it was happening,” Walters stated, adding that the vehicle is designated for the sobriety home’s tasks.

Dramatic Chase Develops Across Multiple Counties

Officials located the van 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 accelerated rapidly. She attained speeds of about 145km/h on the 118 freeway until the chase continued into LA County. At that juncture, Ventura county authorities handed over the pursuit to the California highway patrol once the driver merged onto the Interstate 405 traveling southbound.

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

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

Cross-Border Escape and Aftermath Developments

The chase eventually reached the international border by 1.30pm, prompting the CHP to end its pursuit due to jurisdictional constraints.

Walters indicated on the following day that the vehicle was located in Tijuana, Mexico and that she was coordinating with the authorities to recover the vehicle.

“Ultimately, I’m not worried about the vehicle,” she remarked. “I’m more at ease knowing she wasn’t hurt. The minivan is replaceable.”

Insight from the Facility Operator

Walters, who has operated the recovery residence since October 2024, acknowledges that the journey toward sobriety from substance abuse and emotional distress is often non-linear.

“This is a psychological and substance abuse emergency,” Walters emphasized. “There is a need for more support. It is essential to provide greater resources for those that are facing challenges.”

“The recovery process can be messy,” Walters concluded.