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A female individual formerly staying at a women’s sobriety home in California reportedly took a stolen van and engaged in a hours-long police chase culminating with her crossing the international boundary into Mexico on the start of the week.

Vehicle Theft Reported from Recovery Residence

As stated in a law enforcement statement, a another female, the owner of the vehicle, 45, notified authorities that her 2004 gray Toyota Sienna was stolen, along with her car key. The owner, 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.

“The keys were stolen from my manager’s handbag. I arrived right when it was happening,” Walters stated, noting that the vehicle is designated for the facility’s daily operations.

High-Speed Pursuit Unfolds Across Several Regions

Officials tracked the stolen vehicle about 19 kilometers to the north in Simi Valley, where they tried to initiate a traffic stop, but the suspect refused to stop and accelerated rapidly. She attained speeds of about 90mph on the 118 freeway until the pursuit continued into LA County. At that juncture, Ventura county authorities handed over the operation to the CHP once Wilson entered the Interstate 405 traveling southbound.

“This one is particularly unusual in the context of the road situation enabling drivers to persist on the freeway and prolong this pursuit,” commented a public information officer from the local law enforcement agency.

Wilson allegedly avoided all the spike strips deployed on the road by police, as seen in aerial videos.

International Getaway and Aftermath

The chase eventually reached the US-Mexico border by 1.30pm, leading to the CHP to terminate the chase due to legal limitations.

The vehicle owner indicated on the following day that the vehicle was located in the Mexican city of Tijuana and that she was coordinating with the authorities to recover the vehicle.

“Ultimately, I’m not worried about the vehicle,” she said. “I’m more at ease aware she wasn’t hurt. 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 mental health and substance abuse crisis,” Walters emphasized. “We need additional assistance. We need more resources for those that are struggling.”

“Recovery can be messy,” Walters concluded.