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A woman previously residing at a female recovery facility in the state of California allegedly stole a minivan and engaged in a prolonged law enforcement pursuit ending with her traveling across the international boundary into Mexico on the start of the week.

Auto Theft Discovered from Recovery Residence

As stated in a police statement, a another female, Nicolle Walters, forty-five years old, notified authorities that her 2004 gray Toyota Sienna was stolen, along with her vehicle key. The owner, who operates two women’s sober living homes, named the suspect as Alyssa Wilson at a recovery facility in Thousand Oaks, located approximately an hour’s drive of Los Angeles.

“My keys were taken out of my house manager’s purse. I arrived just as it was happening,” she said, adding that the minivan is designated for the facility’s daily operations.

Dramatic Chase Develops Across Several Regions

Authorities located the stolen vehicle about 19 kilometers to the north in Simi Valley, where they attempted 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 pursuit proceeded into Los Angeles county. At that point, Ventura county authorities handed over the pursuit to the California highway patrol once the driver entered the 405 freeway traveling southbound.

“This incident is particularly unusual in the context of the road situation allowing individuals to persist on the highway and extend this chase,” said a public information officer from the local law enforcement agency.

The suspect allegedly avoided all the spike strips deployed on the road by authorities, as documented in aerial videos.

Cross-Border Escape and Aftermath Developments

The pursuit eventually reached the US-Mexico border by early afternoon, leading to the highway patrol to terminate the chase due to jurisdictional constraints.

The vehicle owner stated on the following day that the vehicle was located 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 worried about the vehicle,” she remarked. “I’m relieved aware she wasn’t hurt. The car is easily substituted.”

Owner’s Perspective

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

“This represents a psychological and substance abuse crisis,” Walters emphasized. “We need additional assistance. It is essential to provide greater resources for those that are facing challenges.”

“Recovery can be messy,” she added.