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A female individual previously residing at a female recovery facility in California allegedly stole a minivan and engaged in a hours-long police chase ending with her traveling across the border into the nation of Mexico on Monday.

Auto Theft Discovered from Sober Living Home

According to a police statement, a another female, the owner of the vehicle, 45, notified authorities that her 2004 gray Toyota Sienna was stolen, along with her vehicle key. Walters, who operates two women’s sober living homes, named 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 manager’s handbag. I happened to pull up right when it was occurring,” Walters stated, adding that the minivan is designated for the sobriety home’s tasks.

High-Speed Pursuit 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 reached speeds of about 90mph on the 118 freeway until the chase proceeded into LA County. At that juncture, local sheriff’s deputies handed over the operation to the California highway patrol once the driver entered the Interstate 405 heading south.

“This incident is very unique in the context of the road situation enabling individuals to continue to remain on the highway and prolong this pursuit,” commented a public information officer from the Ventura county sheriff’s office.

The suspect reportedly dodged all the tire-deflation devices deployed on the road by police, as documented in footage from above.

International Getaway and Aftermath Developments

The chase eventually reached the US-Mexico border by early afternoon, prompting the CHP to terminate the chase due to legal limitations.

Walters indicated on the following day that the vehicle was located in the Mexican city of Tijuana and that she was working 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 aware she was not injured. The car is easily substituted.”

Owner’s Perspective

The sober living home owner, who has run Diana’s House Sober Living since October 2024, recognizes that the path to recovery from substance abuse and trauma is often non-linear.

“This represents a psychological and addiction crisis,” Walters emphasized. “We need additional assistance. We need greater resources for those that are facing challenges.”

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