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A female individual formerly staying at a women’s sobriety home in the state of California allegedly took a stolen van and led a hours-long law enforcement pursuit culminating with her traveling across the border into Mexico on Monday.

Vehicle Theft Reported from Sober Living Home

According to a police announcement, a another female, the owner of the vehicle, forty-five years old, notified authorities that her 2004 gray Toyota Sienna was stolen, along with her car key. Walters, who manages two female recovery residences, identified the alleged thief as Alyssa Wilson at a recovery facility in Thousand Oaks, located approximately 60 minutes north-west of LA.

“My keys were taken out of my house manager’s purse. I happened to pull up just as it was occurring,” Walters stated, noting that the minivan is used for the facility’s daily operations.

Dramatic Chase Develops Across Multiple Counties

Officials tracked the stolen vehicle about 19 kilometers north in a nearby city, where they attempted to pull the vehicle over, but Wilson refused to stop and accelerated rapidly. She attained speeds of about 90mph on the State Route 118 until the pursuit proceeded into Los Angeles county. At that juncture, Ventura county authorities transferred the operation to the CHP once the driver merged onto the Interstate 405 heading south.

“This incident is very unique in the sense of the traffic conditions enabling individuals to persist on the freeway and extend this pursuit,” said a spokesperson from the Ventura county sheriff’s office.

The suspect reportedly avoided all the spike strips deployed on the roadway by police, as documented in aerial videos.

International Getaway and Aftermath

The chase eventually reached the international border by early afternoon, leading to the highway patrol to terminate the chase due to jurisdictional constraints.

Walters indicated on the following day that the vehicle was situated in Tijuana, Mexico and that she was coordinating with the authorities to retrieve it.

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

Owner’s Perspective

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

“This is a psychological and substance abuse crisis,” Walters emphasized. “There is a need for additional assistance. We need more resources for those that are struggling.”

“Recovery isn’t always pretty,” she added.