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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 ending with her traveling across the international boundary into the nation of Mexico on Monday.

Vehicle Theft Reported from Recovery Residence

According to a law enforcement statement, a another female, Nicolle Walters, 45, reported that her gray minivan from 2004 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, situated approximately an hour’s drive of Los Angeles.

“My keys were taken from my house manager’s purse. I arrived just as it was occurring,” Walters stated, adding that the vehicle is designated for the facility’s daily operations.

High-Speed Pursuit Unfolds Across Multiple Counties

Authorities tracked the van 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 pursuit continued into Los Angeles county. At that point, local sheriff’s deputies transferred the pursuit to the CHP once the driver merged onto the 405 freeway heading south.

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

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

International Getaway and Aftermath

The chase finally arrived at the US-Mexico border by 1.30pm, prompting the highway patrol to terminate the chase due to legal limitations.

The vehicle owner indicated on the following day that the minivan was located in Tijuana, Mexico and that she was coordinating with the CHP to retrieve it.

“At the end of the day, I’m not worried about the car,” Walters said. “I’m relieved knowing she was not injured. The minivan is easily substituted.”

Insight from the Facility Operator

The sober living home owner, who has run Diana’s House Sober Living since October 2024, recognizes that the journey toward sobriety from substance abuse and emotional distress is not always linear.

“This represents a mental health and substance abuse emergency,” she said. “We need more support. It is essential to provide more resources for those that are facing challenges.”

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