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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 ending with her crossing the international boundary into Mexico on Monday.

Vehicle Theft Discovered from Sober Living Home

As stated in a law enforcement statement, a second woman, Nicolle Walters, 45, notified authorities that her gray minivan from 2004 was missing, along with her car key. Walters, who manages two women’s sober living homes, identified the suspect as one of the residents at a recovery facility in Thousand Oaks, situated approximately an hour’s drive of LA.

“My keys were taken from my manager’s handbag. I arrived right when it was occurring,” Walters stated, adding that the minivan is used for the facility’s daily operations.

Dramatic Chase Unfolds Across Several Regions

Authorities located the stolen vehicle about 12 miles north in a nearby city, where they attempted to pull the vehicle over, 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 point, Ventura county authorities transferred the pursuit to the CHP once the driver merged onto the Interstate 405 traveling southbound.

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

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

International Getaway and Aftermath Developments

The chase finally arrived at the international border by early afternoon, prompting the CHP to terminate the chase due to jurisdictional constraints.

Walters stated on the following day that the vehicle was located in Tijuana, Mexico and that she was working with the CHP to recover the vehicle.

“Ultimately, I’m not concerned with the car,” Walters remarked. “I’m more at ease aware she was not injured. The car 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 substance abuse and emotional distress is often non-linear.

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

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