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A female individual formerly staying at a women’s sobriety home in the state of California allegedly stole a minivan and engaged in a hours-long police chase culminating with her traveling across the international boundary into the nation of Mexico on Monday.

Auto Theft Discovered from Recovery Residence

According to a law enforcement announcement, a second woman, Nicolle Walters, 45, notified authorities that her gray minivan from 2004 was stolen, along with her vehicle key. Walters, 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 LA.

“My keys were stolen out of my manager’s handbag. I arrived just as it was occurring,” she said, noting that the minivan is used for the facility’s daily operations.

High-Speed Pursuit Develops Across Multiple Counties

Officials tracked the stolen vehicle about 19 kilometers north in Simi Valley, where they attempted to initiate a traffic stop, but Wilson did not comply and sped away. She reached speeds of about 145km/h on the State Route 118 until the pursuit proceeded into LA County. At that juncture, local sheriff’s deputies handed over the operation to the CHP once Wilson entered the 405 freeway heading south.

“This incident is particularly unusual in the sense of the traffic conditions allowing individuals to continue to remain on the highway and extend this pursuit,” said a spokesperson from the local law enforcement agency.

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

International Getaway and Aftermath

The chase finally arrived at the US-Mexico border by 1.30pm, prompting the CHP to terminate the chase due to legal limitations.

Walters stated on Tuesday that the vehicle was located in Tijuana, Mexico and that she was coordinating with the authorities to recover the vehicle.

“At the end of the day, I’m not worried about the car,” she said. “I’m more at ease aware she was not injured. The car is replaceable.”

Insight from the Facility Operator

Walters, who has run the recovery residence since October 2024, acknowledges that the journey toward sobriety from substance abuse and emotional distress is often non-linear.

“This is 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,” Walters concluded.