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A woman formerly staying at a female recovery facility in the state of California allegedly took a stolen van and engaged in a hours-long law enforcement pursuit ending with her crossing the border into the nation of Mexico on the start of the week.

Auto Theft Reported from Sober Living Home

According to a police announcement, a another female, the owner of the vehicle, 45, reported that her 2004 gray Toyota Sienna was stolen, along with her car key. The owner, who manages two female recovery residences, named the alleged thief as one of the residents at Diana’s House Sober Living, located approximately an hour’s drive of LA.

“The keys were taken out of my manager’s handbag. I happened to pull up just as it was happening,” Walters stated, adding that the minivan is used for the facility’s daily operations.

Dramatic Chase Unfolds Across Multiple Counties

Officials located the stolen vehicle about 12 miles north in Simi Valley, where they attempted to initiate a traffic stop, but the suspect refused to stop and accelerated rapidly. She attained speeds of about 145km/h on the 118 freeway until the chase proceeded into LA County. At that point, Ventura county authorities transferred the pursuit to the California highway patrol once the driver entered the Interstate 405 heading south.

“This one is particularly unusual in the context of the traffic conditions enabling individuals to persist on the freeway and prolong this chase,” commented a public information officer from the local law enforcement agency.

The suspect allegedly avoided all the spike strips deployed on the roadway by police, as seen in aerial videos.

Cross-Border Escape and Aftermath Developments

The chase finally arrived at the US-Mexico border by 1.30pm, leading to the highway patrol to end its pursuit due to jurisdictional constraints.

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

“At the end of the day, I’m not worried about the car,” she said. “I’m relieved aware she wasn’t hurt. The car is replaceable.”

Insight from the Facility Operator

The sober living home owner, who has operated the recovery residence since last October, acknowledges that the path to recovery from substance abuse and emotional distress is not always linear.

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

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