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A woman formerly staying at a female recovery facility in California allegedly stole a minivan and led a prolonged police chase ending with her traveling across the international boundary into Mexico on the start of the week.

Vehicle Theft Discovered from Sober Living Home

According to a law enforcement announcement, a another female, the owner of the vehicle, 45, notified authorities that her 2004 gray Toyota Sienna was stolen, along with her car key. The owner, who operates two women’s sober living homes, named 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 house manager’s purse. I happened to pull up right when it was happening,” she said, noting that the vehicle is designated for the facility’s daily operations.

Dramatic Chase Develops Across Several Regions

Officials tracked the stolen vehicle about 12 miles to the north in a nearby city, where they tried to initiate a traffic stop, but the suspect did not comply and sped away. She attained speeds of about 90mph on the State Route 118 until the pursuit continued into LA County. At that point, local sheriff’s deputies handed over the operation to the CHP once the driver merged onto the 405 freeway heading south.

“This one is particularly unusual in the context of the road situation enabling drivers to continue to remain on the freeway and prolong this chase,” commented a spokesperson from the local law enforcement agency.

Wilson reportedly avoided all the tire-deflation devices deployed on the roadway by police, as seen in footage from above.

Cross-Border Escape and Aftermath

The chase eventually reached the international border by early afternoon, prompting the CHP to terminate the chase due to legal limitations.

Walters stated on the following day that the vehicle was located in the Mexican city of Tijuana and that she was working with the CHP to retrieve it.

“Ultimately, I’m not worried about the car,” she remarked. “I’m relieved knowing she wasn’t hurt. The car is replaceable.”

Owner’s Perspective

Walters, who has operated the recovery residence since October 2024, recognizes that the journey toward sobriety from addiction and trauma is often non-linear.

“This is a mental health and substance abuse crisis,” Walters emphasized. “There is a need for more support. We need more resources for those that are struggling.”

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