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A woman formerly staying at a women’s sobriety home in the state of California allegedly 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 Reported from Recovery Residence

As stated in a police statement, a another female, the owner of the vehicle, 45, reported that her gray minivan from 2004 was missing, along with her car key. The owner, who operates two female recovery residences, identified the suspect as Alyssa Wilson at a recovery facility in Thousand Oaks, located approximately an hour’s drive of LA.

“My keys were taken from my manager’s handbag. I arrived right when it was occurring,” she said, noting that the vehicle is designated for the facility’s daily operations.

High-Speed Pursuit Develops Across Multiple Counties

Officials located the stolen vehicle about 12 miles north in Simi Valley, where they attempted to pull the vehicle over, but Wilson refused to stop and sped away. She reached speeds of about 145km/h on the 118 freeway until the pursuit proceeded into Los Angeles county. At that point, local sheriff’s deputies transferred the operation to the CHP once the driver entered the 405 freeway heading south.

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

Wilson allegedly avoided all the tire-deflation devices deployed on the road by police, as documented in aerial videos.

International Getaway and Aftermath Developments

The pursuit finally arrived at the international border by early afternoon, prompting the highway patrol to end its pursuit due to legal limitations.

Walters stated on Tuesday that the minivan was situated in Tijuana, Mexico and that she was working with the CHP to retrieve it.

“Ultimately, I’m not worried about the car,” she remarked. “I’m more at ease knowing she was not injured. The minivan is replaceable.”

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 not always linear.

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

“Recovery can be messy,” she added.