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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 culminating with her traveling across the international boundary into Mexico on Monday.

Auto Theft Discovered from Recovery Residence

As stated in a law enforcement statement, a second woman, the owner of the vehicle, forty-five years old, notified authorities that her 2004 gray Toyota Sienna was missing, along with her vehicle key. Walters, who manages two women’s sober living homes, identified the alleged thief as Alyssa Wilson at a recovery facility in Thousand Oaks, located approximately 60 minutes north-west of Los Angeles.

“My keys were stolen out of my manager’s handbag. I happened to pull up right when it was happening,” Walters stated, adding that the minivan is used for the sobriety home’s tasks.

High-Speed Pursuit Unfolds Across Multiple Counties

Officials tracked the stolen vehicle about 19 kilometers north in Simi Valley, where they attempted to pull the vehicle over, but Wilson refused to stop and sped away. She attained speeds of about 145km/h on the State Route 118 until the chase proceeded into LA County. At that juncture, local sheriff’s deputies transferred the pursuit to the California highway patrol once Wilson merged onto the Interstate 405 heading south.

“This incident is very unique in the context of the traffic conditions enabling drivers to persist on the highway and extend this chase,” said a public information officer from the local law enforcement agency.

The suspect reportedly avoided all the tire-deflation devices deployed on the roadway by authorities, as seen in aerial videos.

Cross-Border Escape and Aftermath

The chase eventually reached the international border by 1.30pm, prompting the CHP to terminate the chase due to legal limitations.

The vehicle owner stated on Tuesday that the minivan was situated in the Mexican city of Tijuana and that she was coordinating with the authorities to recover the vehicle.

“At the end of the day, I’m not worried about the vehicle,” Walters remarked. “I’m more at ease knowing she was not injured. The minivan is easily substituted.”

Owner’s Perspective

The sober living home owner, who has operated the recovery residence since October 2024, recognizes that the path to recovery from substance abuse and emotional distress is often non-linear.

“This is a psychological and substance abuse crisis,” she said. “There is a need for additional assistance. It is essential to provide greater resources for those that are struggling.”

“The recovery process isn’t always pretty,” Walters concluded.