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A woman previously residing at a women’s sobriety home in California allegedly stole a minivan and engaged in a prolonged police chase culminating with her traveling across the international boundary into Mexico on the start of the week.

Vehicle Theft Reported from Recovery Residence

According to a law enforcement statement, a another female, the owner of the vehicle, 45, reported that her gray minivan from 2004 was stolen, along with her car key. Walters, who manages two women’s sober living homes, identified the alleged thief as Alyssa Wilson at a recovery facility in Thousand Oaks, situated approximately an hour’s drive of Los Angeles.

“My keys were taken out of my manager’s handbag. I arrived just as it was happening,” Walters stated, adding that the minivan is designated for the facility’s daily operations.

Dramatic Chase Unfolds Across Several Regions

Authorities located the van about 19 kilometers to the north in Simi Valley, where they tried to pull the vehicle over, but Wilson did not comply and sped away. She reached speeds of about 145km/h on the 118 freeway until the pursuit continued into LA County. At that juncture, Ventura county authorities handed over the operation to the California highway patrol once Wilson entered the 405 freeway heading south.

“This one is very unique in the sense of the traffic conditions enabling individuals to continue to remain on the freeway and prolong this pursuit,” commented a spokesperson from the Ventura county sheriff’s office.

The suspect allegedly avoided all the tire-deflation devices tossed on the roadway by police, as seen in footage from above.

International Getaway and Aftermath

The pursuit finally arrived at the US-Mexico border by 1.30pm, leading to the CHP to terminate the chase due to legal limitations.

Walters indicated on the following day that the vehicle was located in Tijuana, Mexico and that she was working with the CHP to retrieve it.

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

Owner’s Perspective

The sober living home owner, who has operated the recovery residence since October 2024, acknowledges that the path to recovery from substance abuse and trauma is not always linear.

“This represents a mental health and addiction crisis,” she said. “We need more support. It is essential to provide more resources for those that are facing challenges.”

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