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A female individual previously residing at a women’s sobriety home in the state of California reportedly took a stolen van and engaged in a hours-long law enforcement pursuit ending with her traveling across the border into Mexico on Monday.

Auto Theft Reported from Sober Living Home

According to a law enforcement announcement, a second woman, the owner of the vehicle, 45, notified authorities that her 2004 gray Toyota Sienna was stolen, along with her vehicle key. The owner, who manages two female recovery residences, named the alleged thief as Alyssa Wilson at Diana’s House Sober Living, situated approximately an hour’s drive of Los Angeles.

“The keys were stolen out of my house manager’s purse. I arrived just as it was happening,” she said, noting that the vehicle is designated for the facility’s daily operations.

Dramatic Chase Develops Across Multiple Counties

Officials located the stolen vehicle about 19 kilometers north in Simi Valley, where they tried to initiate a traffic stop, but the suspect refused to stop and sped away. She attained speeds of about 145km/h on the State Route 118 until the pursuit proceeded into LA County. At that point, local sheriff’s deputies transferred the pursuit to the California highway patrol once the driver entered the 405 freeway heading south.

“This incident is particularly unusual in the sense of the road situation enabling drivers to continue to remain on the highway and prolong this chase,” commented a public information officer from the local law enforcement agency.

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

International Getaway and Aftermath Developments

The pursuit finally arrived at the international border by early afternoon, leading to the CHP to end its pursuit due to jurisdictional constraints.

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

“At the end of the day, I’m not concerned with the car,” she remarked. “I’m more at ease aware she wasn’t hurt. The car is easily substituted.”

Insight from the Facility Operator

Walters, who has run Diana’s House Sober Living since October 2024, acknowledges that the path to recovery from substance abuse and emotional distress is not always linear.

“This is a psychological and substance abuse emergency,” Walters emphasized. “There is a need for more support. We need greater resources for those that are facing challenges.”

“Recovery isn’t always pretty,” Walters concluded.