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A woman formerly staying at a women’s sobriety home in California allegedly took a stolen van and led a hours-long police chase culminating with her traveling across the border into Mexico on the start of the week.

Vehicle Theft Discovered from Sober Living Home

As stated in a police announcement, a another female, the owner of the vehicle, forty-five years old, notified authorities 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 Los Angeles.

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

High-Speed Pursuit Unfolds Across Several Regions

Officials tracked the stolen vehicle about 12 miles north in a nearby city, where they attempted to pull the vehicle over, but Wilson refused to stop and accelerated rapidly. She reached speeds of about 145km/h on the 118 freeway until the chase proceeded into Los Angeles county. At that point, Ventura county authorities transferred the pursuit to the California highway patrol once Wilson merged onto the Interstate 405 traveling southbound.

“This one is very unique in the context of the traffic conditions enabling drivers to continue to remain on the highway and extend this chase,” commented a public information officer from the local law enforcement agency.

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

Cross-Border Escape and Aftermath Developments

The pursuit eventually reached the international border by early afternoon, leading to the CHP to terminate the chase due to legal limitations.

Walters indicated on Tuesday that the vehicle was situated in the Mexican city of Tijuana and that she was working with the authorities to recover the vehicle.

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

Insight from the Facility Operator

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 substance abuse crisis,” she said. “We need more support. It is essential to provide greater resources for those that are struggling.”

“Recovery can be messy,” she added.