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A female individual formerly staying at a female recovery facility in the state of California reportedly stole a minivan and engaged in a hours-long law enforcement pursuit culminating with her traveling across the border into Mexico on Monday.

Vehicle Theft Discovered from Sober Living Home

According to a law enforcement announcement, a second woman, Nicolle Walters, 45, reported that her 2004 gray Toyota Sienna was stolen, along with her vehicle key. The owner, who manages two female recovery residences, named the alleged thief as Alyssa Wilson at a recovery facility in Thousand Oaks, situated approximately an hour’s drive of LA.

“The keys were taken from my manager’s handbag. I happened to pull up just as it was occurring,” she said, noting that the vehicle is designated for the facility’s daily operations.

Dramatic Chase Develops Across Multiple Counties

Authorities tracked the stolen vehicle about 19 kilometers to the north in a nearby city, where they attempted to initiate a traffic stop, but Wilson did not comply and sped away. She reached speeds of about 90mph on the 118 freeway until the chase proceeded into Los Angeles county. At that juncture, local sheriff’s deputies transferred the pursuit to the California highway patrol once Wilson merged onto the Interstate 405 heading south.

“This one is very unique in the context of the road situation allowing individuals to continue to remain on the freeway and extend this pursuit,” commented a spokesperson from the Ventura county sheriff’s office.

The suspect allegedly dodged all the spike strips tossed on the road by authorities, as documented in footage from above.

International Getaway and Aftermath

The chase eventually reached the US-Mexico border by 1.30pm, leading to the CHP to end its pursuit due to jurisdictional constraints.

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

“Ultimately, I’m not worried about the vehicle,” Walters remarked. “I’m more at ease aware she was not injured. The minivan is easily substituted.”

Owner’s Perspective

The sober living home owner, who has run the recovery residence since October 2024, acknowledges that the journey toward sobriety from substance abuse and emotional distress is often non-linear.

“This is a psychological and addiction crisis,” she said. “We need more support. We need more resources for those that are struggling.”

“The recovery process isn’t always pretty,” Walters concluded.