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A woman previously residing at a female recovery facility in the state of California reportedly took a stolen van and engaged in a prolonged police chase culminating with her crossing the border into the nation of Mexico on the start of the week.

Vehicle Theft Discovered from Sober Living Home

According to a police statement, a another female, Nicolle Walters, 45, reported that her 2004 gray Toyota Sienna was missing, along with her car key. Walters, who manages two women’s sober living homes, named the alleged thief as one of the residents at a recovery facility in Thousand Oaks, situated approximately an hour’s drive of LA.

“My keys were stolen from my house manager’s purse. I arrived just as it was happening,” Walters stated, noting that the vehicle is designated for the facility’s daily operations.

Dramatic Chase Develops Across Multiple Counties

Authorities tracked the van about 12 miles north in Simi Valley, where they attempted to pull the vehicle over, but Wilson refused to stop and accelerated rapidly. She attained speeds of about 145km/h on the State Route 118 until the chase continued into Los Angeles county. At that juncture, local sheriff’s deputies transferred the operation to the California highway patrol once Wilson merged onto the 405 freeway heading south.

“This one is particularly unusual in the context of the road situation enabling drivers to continue to remain on the freeway and prolong this pursuit,” said a spokesperson from the Ventura county sheriff’s office.

The suspect reportedly avoided all the tire-deflation devices tossed on the roadway by police, as documented in aerial videos.

International Getaway and Aftermath Developments

The chase finally arrived at the US-Mexico border by early afternoon, prompting the CHP to terminate the chase due to legal limitations.

Walters indicated on the following day that the minivan was situated in the Mexican city of Tijuana 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 replaceable.”

Owner’s Perspective

The sober living home owner, who has operated Diana’s House Sober Living since October 2024, acknowledges that the path to recovery from substance abuse and emotional distress is often non-linear.

“This represents a mental health and addiction crisis,” she said. “There is a need for additional assistance. It is essential to provide more resources for those that are struggling.”

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