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A female individual formerly staying at a female recovery facility in the state of California reportedly stole a minivan and led a prolonged law enforcement pursuit ending with her crossing the border into Mexico on Monday.

Vehicle Theft Reported from Sober Living Home

As stated in a law enforcement statement, a another female, Nicolle Walters, 45, reported that her 2004 gray Toyota Sienna was stolen, along with her car key. Walters, who operates two women’s sober living homes, named the suspect as one of the residents at a recovery facility in Thousand Oaks, located approximately 60 minutes north-west of LA.

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

Dramatic Chase Unfolds Across Multiple Counties

Officials located the stolen vehicle about 19 kilometers to the north in Simi Valley, where they attempted to pull the vehicle over, but the suspect did not comply and sped away. She reached speeds of about 90mph on the State Route 118 until the chase continued into Los Angeles county. At that juncture, Ventura county authorities handed over the pursuit to the California highway patrol once Wilson merged onto the Interstate 405 heading south.

“This incident is very unique in the sense of the road situation enabling individuals to persist on the highway and extend this chase,” said a public information officer from the local law enforcement agency.

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

Cross-Border Escape and Aftermath

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

Walters stated on Tuesday that the vehicle was located in the Mexican city of Tijuana and that she was working with the CHP to recover the vehicle.

“Ultimately, I’m not worried about the vehicle,” Walters said. “I’m more at ease knowing she was not injured. The minivan is easily substituted.”

Owner’s Perspective

Walters, who has operated the recovery residence since October 2024, recognizes that the journey toward sobriety from substance abuse and emotional distress is not always linear.

“This is a mental health and substance abuse crisis,” Walters emphasized. “We need additional assistance. It is essential to provide greater resources for those that are struggling.”

“The recovery process isn’t always pretty,” she added.