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A female individual formerly staying at a female recovery facility in California reportedly stole a minivan and engaged in a prolonged police chase ending with her crossing the international boundary into the nation of Mexico on the start of the week.

Auto Theft Discovered from Sober Living Home

According to a law enforcement statement, a another female, the owner of the vehicle, 45, notified authorities that her gray minivan from 2004 was stolen, along with her car key. The owner, 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 Los Angeles.

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

High-Speed Pursuit Unfolds Across Several Regions

Authorities tracked the stolen vehicle about 19 kilometers to the north in Simi Valley, where they attempted to initiate a traffic stop, but the suspect did not comply and sped away. She reached speeds of about 145km/h on the State Route 118 until the pursuit continued into LA County. At that juncture, Ventura county authorities handed over the pursuit to the CHP once the driver entered the 405 freeway heading south.

“This one is particularly unusual in the context of the traffic conditions enabling individuals to continue to remain on the freeway and prolong this pursuit,” commented a spokesperson from the local law enforcement agency.

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

International Getaway and Aftermath

The chase finally arrived at the international border by 1.30pm, leading to the highway patrol to terminate the chase due to legal limitations.

The vehicle owner indicated on Tuesday that the minivan was situated in Tijuana, Mexico and that she was working with the authorities to retrieve it.

“Ultimately, I’m not worried about the car,” Walters remarked. “I’m more at ease knowing she wasn’t hurt. The car is easily substituted.”

Owner’s Perspective

The sober living home owner, who has run Diana’s House Sober Living since last October, recognizes that the path to recovery from addiction and emotional distress is not always linear.

“This represents a mental health and substance abuse emergency,” Walters emphasized. “We need additional assistance. It is essential to provide more resources for those that are facing challenges.”

“Recovery can be messy,” she added.