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A woman previously residing at a female recovery facility in the state of California allegedly stole a minivan and led a prolonged police chase culminating with her traveling across the international boundary into Mexico on the start of the week.

Vehicle Theft Discovered from Recovery Residence

According to 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 car key. Walters, who manages two women’s sober living homes, named the suspect as Alyssa Wilson at a recovery facility in Thousand Oaks, located approximately 60 minutes north-west of Los Angeles.

“My keys were taken from my house manager’s purse. I happened to pull up just as it was happening,” she said, noting that the vehicle is used for the facility’s daily operations.

Dramatic Chase Develops Across Several Regions

Officials tracked the stolen vehicle about 19 kilometers to the north in a nearby city, where they tried to initiate a traffic stop, but the suspect did not comply and sped away. She attained speeds of about 90mph on the State Route 118 until the pursuit proceeded into LA County. At that point, Ventura county authorities transferred the operation to the CHP once the driver merged onto the 405 freeway heading south.

“This incident is very unique in the sense of the road situation enabling drivers to continue to remain on the freeway and extend this pursuit,” said a spokesperson from the local law enforcement agency.

Wilson reportedly dodged all the tire-deflation devices tossed on the roadway by police, as seen in aerial videos.

Cross-Border Escape and Aftermath Developments

The pursuit finally arrived at the US-Mexico border by early afternoon, leading to the CHP to end its pursuit due to jurisdictional constraints.

The vehicle owner indicated on Tuesday that the minivan was located in the Mexican city of Tijuana and that she was working with the authorities to recover the vehicle.

“Ultimately, I’m not concerned with the vehicle,” she remarked. “I’m relieved aware she wasn’t hurt. The car is replaceable.”

Owner’s Perspective

Walters, who has operated Diana’s House Sober Living since October 2024, recognizes that the journey toward sobriety from substance abuse and trauma is often non-linear.

“This is a mental health and substance abuse crisis,” she said. “We need more support. It is essential to provide greater resources for those that are struggling.”

“Recovery can be messy,” she added.