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A woman previously residing at a female recovery facility in California allegedly took a stolen van and engaged in a prolonged law enforcement pursuit ending with her traveling across the international boundary into Mexico on Monday.

Vehicle Theft Discovered from Sober Living Home

According to a law enforcement announcement, a another female, Nicolle Walters, 45, reported that her 2004 gray Toyota Sienna was missing, along with her vehicle key. The owner, who manages two women’s sober living homes, named the alleged thief as Alyssa Wilson at a recovery facility in Thousand Oaks, situated approximately an hour’s drive of LA.

“The keys were taken out of my house manager’s purse. I happened to pull up just as it was happening,” Walters stated, noting that the minivan is used for the facility’s daily operations.

High-Speed Pursuit Unfolds Across Several Regions

Authorities tracked the van about 12 miles north in Simi Valley, where they attempted to initiate a traffic stop, but the suspect did not comply and accelerated rapidly. She reached speeds of about 90mph on the State Route 118 until the pursuit proceeded into Los Angeles county. At that point, local sheriff’s deputies transferred the operation to the California highway patrol once the driver merged onto the 405 freeway traveling southbound.

“This incident is particularly unusual in the context of the road situation enabling drivers to persist on the freeway and prolong this pursuit,” said a spokesperson from the Ventura county sheriff’s office.

The suspect reportedly dodged all the spike strips tossed on the road by police, as documented in aerial videos.

International Getaway and Aftermath

The pursuit finally arrived at the US-Mexico border by 1.30pm, leading to the CHP to end its pursuit due to jurisdictional constraints.

Walters indicated on Tuesday that the minivan was located in the Mexican city of Tijuana and that she was working with the authorities to retrieve it.

“At the end of the day, I’m not worried about the vehicle,” she remarked. “I’m relieved knowing she was not injured. The minivan is replaceable.”

Owner’s Perspective

The sober living home owner, who has operated Diana’s House Sober Living since October 2024, recognizes that the journey toward sobriety from addiction and emotional distress is often non-linear.

“This is a psychological and addiction crisis,” Walters emphasized. “There is a need for more support. It is essential to provide more resources for those that are facing challenges.”

“The recovery process isn’t always pretty,” she added.