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A woman formerly staying at a female recovery facility in the state of California allegedly stole a minivan and engaged in a prolonged police chase ending with her crossing the border into Mexico on the start of the week.

Auto Theft Discovered from Sober Living Home

According to a law enforcement announcement, a second woman, Nicolle Walters, forty-five years old, notified authorities that her 2004 gray Toyota Sienna was stolen, along with her car key. The owner, who operates 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 LA.

“The keys were stolen from my manager’s handbag. I happened to pull up right when it was happening,” Walters stated, adding that the vehicle is used for the sobriety home’s tasks.

Dramatic Chase Develops Across Multiple Counties

Officials tracked the van about 12 miles north in Simi Valley, where they tried to initiate a traffic stop, but Wilson refused to stop and accelerated rapidly. She attained speeds of about 145km/h on the State Route 118 until the chase continued into LA County. At that point, Ventura county authorities handed over the operation to the California highway patrol once the driver merged onto the Interstate 405 heading south.

“This incident is particularly unusual in the context of the traffic conditions allowing individuals to continue to remain on the highway and prolong this chase,” said a public information officer from the Ventura county sheriff’s office.

Wilson reportedly dodged all the tire-deflation devices deployed on the roadway by authorities, as seen in footage from above.

International Getaway and Aftermath Developments

The chase eventually reached the US-Mexico border by 1.30pm, leading to the CHP to end its pursuit due to legal limitations.

The vehicle owner stated on the following day that the vehicle was located in the Mexican city of Tijuana and that she was working with the CHP to retrieve it.

“Ultimately, I’m not concerned with the car,” she said. “I’m more at ease knowing she wasn’t hurt. The minivan is easily substituted.”

Insight from the Facility Operator

Walters, who has operated the recovery residence since October 2024, acknowledges that the journey toward sobriety from addiction and trauma is often non-linear.

“This represents a psychological and addiction crisis,” 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.