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A woman formerly staying at a women’s sobriety home in the state of California allegedly stole a minivan and led a hours-long law enforcement pursuit culminating with her crossing the border into Mexico on the start of the week.

Auto Theft Discovered from Recovery Residence

According to a police announcement, a another female, Nicolle Walters, forty-five years old, notified authorities that her 2004 gray Toyota Sienna was stolen, along with her vehicle key. The owner, who operates two women’s sober living homes, identified the alleged thief as one of the residents at a recovery facility in Thousand Oaks, situated approximately an hour’s drive of Los Angeles.

“The keys were stolen out of my house manager’s purse. I arrived right when it was occurring,” she said, adding that the minivan is used for the facility’s daily operations.

Dramatic Chase Develops Across Multiple Counties

Authorities tracked the stolen vehicle about 19 kilometers north in a nearby city, where they tried to initiate a traffic stop, but the suspect refused to stop and sped away. She attained speeds of about 90mph on the State Route 118 until the chase proceeded into Los Angeles county. At that juncture, local sheriff’s deputies handed over the operation to the CHP once the driver merged onto the Interstate 405 traveling southbound.

“This one is particularly unusual in the context of the road situation enabling drivers to persist on the freeway and extend this pursuit,” 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 seen in footage from above.

International Getaway and Aftermath Developments

The pursuit finally arrived at the international border by early afternoon, leading to the CHP to terminate the chase due to legal limitations.

Walters stated on the following day that the vehicle was located in the Mexican city of Tijuana and that she was working with the CHP to retrieve it.

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

Insight from the Facility Operator

Walters, who has run the recovery residence since October 2024, recognizes that the path to recovery from substance abuse and trauma is often non-linear.

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

“Recovery can be messy,” Walters concluded.