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A woman formerly staying at a female recovery facility in California reportedly took a stolen van and engaged in a prolonged law enforcement pursuit culminating with her crossing the border into Mexico on the start of the week.

Vehicle Theft Reported from Sober Living Home

According to a police statement, a second woman, the owner of the vehicle, forty-five years old, notified authorities that her gray minivan from 2004 was stolen, along with her vehicle 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 from my house manager’s purse. I arrived just as it was happening,” she said, noting that the minivan is used for the facility’s daily operations.

High-Speed Pursuit Unfolds Across Several Regions

Officials tracked the van about 12 miles to the north in a nearby city, where they tried to initiate a traffic stop, but Wilson did not comply and sped away. She reached speeds of about 90mph on the State Route 118 until the chase continued into LA County. At that juncture, local sheriff’s deputies transferred the pursuit to the California highway patrol once Wilson merged onto the Interstate 405 traveling southbound.

“This incident is particularly unusual in the context of the traffic conditions allowing individuals to persist on the highway and prolong this pursuit,” commented a spokesperson from the local law enforcement agency.

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

International Getaway and Aftermath Developments

The pursuit finally arrived at the US-Mexico border by early afternoon, leading to the highway patrol to terminate the chase due to legal limitations.

The vehicle owner stated on Tuesday that the vehicle was situated in Tijuana, Mexico and that she was coordinating with the CHP to recover the vehicle.

“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 minivan is replaceable.”

Owner’s Perspective

Walters, who has operated Diana’s House Sober Living since October 2024, acknowledges that the journey toward sobriety from addiction and emotional distress is not always linear.

“This is a mental health and substance abuse crisis,” Walters emphasized. “There is a need for more support. It is essential to provide more resources for those that are struggling.”

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