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

Auto Theft Discovered from Recovery Residence

According to a law enforcement announcement, a second woman, the owner of the vehicle, 45, reported that her gray minivan from 2004 was stolen, along with her vehicle key. The owner, who manages two female recovery residences, named the suspect as one of the residents at a recovery facility in Thousand Oaks, located approximately 60 minutes north-west of Los Angeles.

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

High-Speed Pursuit Develops Across Multiple Counties

Officials tracked the van about 12 miles to the north in Simi Valley, where they tried to pull the vehicle over, but the suspect did not comply and sped away. She attained speeds of about 90mph on the State Route 118 until the chase proceeded into Los Angeles county. At that point, local sheriff’s deputies transferred the pursuit to the CHP once the driver entered the Interstate 405 heading south.

“This one is very unique in the context of the traffic conditions allowing drivers to continue to remain on the highway and prolong this chase,” commented a public information officer from the Ventura county sheriff’s office.

The suspect reportedly dodged all the tire-deflation devices tossed on the road by authorities, as documented in footage from above.

International Getaway and Aftermath Developments

The chase finally arrived at the US-Mexico border by early afternoon, prompting the CHP to end its pursuit due to jurisdictional constraints.

The vehicle owner stated on Tuesday that the vehicle was situated in the Mexican city of Tijuana and that she was coordinating with the authorities to retrieve it.

“Ultimately, I’m not worried about the car,” she remarked. “I’m relieved aware she was not injured. The minivan is easily substituted.”

Insight from the Facility Operator

Walters, who has operated Diana’s House Sober Living since October 2024, acknowledges that the path to recovery from addiction and emotional distress 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.”

“Recovery can be messy,” Walters concluded.