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A woman formerly staying at a female recovery facility in California reportedly stole a minivan and engaged in a hours-long law enforcement pursuit ending with her crossing the border into Mexico on the start of the week.

Vehicle Theft Reported from Sober Living Home

As stated in a police statement, a second woman, the owner of the vehicle, 45, reported that her gray minivan from 2004 was stolen, along with her car key. The owner, who manages two women’s sober living homes, identified the suspect as Alyssa Wilson at a recovery facility in Thousand Oaks, situated approximately an hour’s drive of LA.

“My keys were taken out of my manager’s handbag. I happened to pull up right when it was happening,” she said, noting that the vehicle is designated for the facility’s daily operations.

Dramatic Chase Unfolds Across Multiple Counties

Authorities tracked the van about 12 miles north in Simi Valley, where they attempted to pull the vehicle over, but the suspect did not comply and sped away. She reached speeds of about 90mph on the 118 freeway until the chase proceeded into LA County. At that point, local sheriff’s deputies transferred the operation to the California highway patrol once Wilson entered the Interstate 405 heading south.

“This incident is particularly unusual in the context of the road situation enabling individuals to continue to remain on the freeway and prolong this chase,” said a public information officer from the Ventura county sheriff’s office.

The suspect allegedly avoided all the tire-deflation devices deployed on the road by authorities, as seen in aerial videos.

International Getaway and Aftermath

The chase finally arrived at the US-Mexico 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 located in Tijuana, Mexico and that she was coordinating with the CHP to recover the vehicle.

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

Owner’s Perspective

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

“This represents a psychological and addiction emergency,” Walters emphasized. “There is a need for more support. It is essential to provide greater resources for those that are struggling.”

“Recovery can be messy,” she added.