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A woman previously residing at a women’s sobriety home in California reportedly took a stolen van and led a prolonged police chase culminating with her traveling across the border into Mexico on Monday.

Vehicle Theft Discovered from Recovery Residence

According to a law enforcement statement, a another female, the owner of the vehicle, forty-five years old, reported that her 2004 gray Toyota Sienna was missing, along with her car key. Walters, who manages two female recovery residences, named the alleged thief as Alyssa Wilson at a recovery facility in Thousand Oaks, situated approximately 60 minutes north-west of LA.

“My keys were taken from my manager’s handbag. I happened to pull up right when it was happening,” she said, adding that the minivan is designated for the sobriety home’s tasks.

Dramatic Chase Unfolds Across Several Regions

Officials tracked the stolen vehicle about 19 kilometers to the north in Simi Valley, where they tried to pull the vehicle over, but Wilson refused to stop and sped away. She reached speeds of about 90mph on the 118 freeway until the chase proceeded into Los Angeles county. At that point, Ventura county authorities transferred the pursuit to the CHP once the driver merged onto the Interstate 405 traveling southbound.

“This incident is particularly unusual in the context of the traffic conditions allowing drivers to continue to remain on the highway and extend this pursuit,” said a public information officer from the local law enforcement agency.

Wilson allegedly avoided all the tire-deflation devices deployed on the roadway by authorities, as documented in footage from above.

International Getaway and Aftermath Developments

The chase finally arrived at the international border by early afternoon, leading to the CHP to terminate the chase due to legal limitations.

The vehicle owner stated on Tuesday that the minivan was situated in Tijuana, Mexico and that she was coordinating with the CHP to recover the vehicle.

“At the end of the day, I’m not concerned with the vehicle,” she said. “I’m relieved knowing she was not injured. The car is easily substituted.”

Insight from the Facility Operator

Walters, who has operated the recovery residence since October 2024, acknowledges that the path to recovery from substance abuse and trauma is often non-linear.

“This is a psychological and addiction crisis,” Walters emphasized. “We need more support. We need more resources for those that are facing challenges.”

“Recovery can be messy,” Walters concluded.