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A woman formerly staying at a female recovery facility in California reportedly took a stolen van and engaged in a prolonged law enforcement pursuit culminating with her traveling across the border into Mexico on Monday.

Vehicle Theft Discovered from Recovery Residence

As stated in a police statement, a another female, Nicolle Walters, 45, reported that her 2004 gray Toyota Sienna was missing, along with her car key. The owner, who operates two female recovery residences, identified the alleged thief as one of the residents at a recovery facility in Thousand Oaks, located approximately an hour’s drive of LA.

“My keys were stolen from my house manager’s purse. I happened to pull up just as it was occurring,” she said, adding that the vehicle is designated for the facility’s daily operations.

Dramatic Chase Unfolds Across Several Regions

Authorities located the van about 12 miles north in a nearby city, where they attempted to initiate a traffic stop, but the suspect did not comply and accelerated rapidly. She reached speeds of about 90mph on the State Route 118 until the chase proceeded into LA County. At that point, Ventura county authorities handed over the operation to the CHP once Wilson merged onto 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,” commented a public information officer from the Ventura county sheriff’s office.

Wilson reportedly dodged all the tire-deflation devices deployed on the roadway by authorities, as documented in aerial videos.

International Getaway and Aftermath Developments

The chase finally arrived at the US-Mexico border by early afternoon, prompting the CHP to terminate the chase due to jurisdictional constraints.

The vehicle owner indicated on the following day that the vehicle was located in Tijuana, Mexico and that she was coordinating with the CHP to recover the vehicle.

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

Owner’s Perspective

Walters, who has operated 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 addiction crisis,” she said. “There is a need for additional assistance. We need greater resources for those that are struggling.”

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