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A woman previously residing at a women’s sobriety home in California reportedly took a stolen van and led a hours-long police chase culminating with her traveling across the border into Mexico on Monday.

Auto Theft Discovered from Recovery Residence

According to a police statement, a second woman, the owner of the vehicle, forty-five years old, reported that her 2004 gray Toyota Sienna was stolen, along with her vehicle key. The owner, who manages two female recovery residences, identified the alleged thief as Alyssa Wilson at a recovery facility in Thousand Oaks, located approximately an hour’s drive of LA.

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

High-Speed Pursuit Unfolds Across Multiple Counties

Officials located the van about 19 kilometers north in Simi Valley, where they tried to pull the vehicle over, but the suspect refused to stop and sped away. She reached speeds of about 90mph on the State Route 118 until the pursuit continued into Los Angeles county. At that point, local sheriff’s deputies handed over the operation to the California highway patrol once the driver merged onto the Interstate 405 heading south.

“This one is very unique in the context of the road situation allowing drivers to persist on the freeway and extend this chase,” commented a public information officer from the Ventura county sheriff’s office.

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

International Getaway and Aftermath

The chase eventually reached the international border by 1.30pm, leading to the highway patrol to end its pursuit due to legal limitations.

Walters indicated on the following day that the vehicle was situated in the Mexican city of Tijuana and that she was coordinating with the CHP to recover the vehicle.

“At the end of the day, I’m not concerned with the car,” Walters remarked. “I’m relieved aware she was not injured. The minivan is easily substituted.”

Insight from the Facility Operator

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

“This is a psychological 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,” Walters concluded.