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A woman formerly staying at a female recovery facility in California allegedly stole a minivan and engaged in a prolonged law enforcement pursuit ending with her traveling across the international boundary into the nation of Mexico on Monday.

Vehicle Theft Reported from Sober Living Home

As stated in a police announcement, a second woman, Nicolle Walters, 45, reported that her gray minivan from 2004 was missing, along with her car key. The owner, who manages two women’s sober living homes, identified the alleged thief as one of the residents at a recovery facility in Thousand Oaks, situated approximately 60 minutes north-west of Los Angeles.

“My keys were taken out of my manager’s handbag. I arrived right when it was occurring,” Walters stated, adding that the minivan is designated for the sobriety home’s tasks.

High-Speed Pursuit Unfolds Across Multiple Counties

Authorities located the van about 19 kilometers to the north in Simi Valley, where they tried to initiate a traffic stop, but Wilson refused to stop and accelerated rapidly. 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 transferred the pursuit to the CHP once the driver merged onto the Interstate 405 heading south.

“This incident is very unique in the context of the traffic conditions allowing individuals to continue to remain on the freeway and prolong this pursuit,” commented a public information officer from the local law enforcement agency.

Wilson allegedly dodged all the spike strips deployed on the road by police, as seen in footage from above.

Cross-Border Escape and Aftermath

The chase finally arrived at the international border by 1.30pm, leading to the CHP to terminate the chase due to jurisdictional constraints.

The vehicle owner indicated on the following day that the vehicle was located in the Mexican city of Tijuana and that she was working with the authorities to retrieve it.

“Ultimately, I’m not concerned with the car,” Walters said. “I’m more at ease aware she wasn’t hurt. The minivan is replaceable.”

Insight from the Facility Operator

The sober living home owner, who has run the recovery residence since October 2024, acknowledges that the journey toward sobriety from substance abuse and trauma is not always linear.

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

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