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A woman formerly staying at a women’s sobriety home in California allegedly took a stolen van and led a prolonged police chase ending with her traveling across the international boundary into the nation of Mexico on the start of the week.

Auto Theft Reported from Sober Living Home

According to a law enforcement announcement, a second woman, the owner of the vehicle, 45, reported that her 2004 gray Toyota Sienna was stolen, along with her vehicle key. Walters, who manages two women’s sober living homes, named the alleged thief as Alyssa Wilson at a recovery facility in Thousand Oaks, situated approximately 60 minutes north-west of Los Angeles.

“My keys were taken from my manager’s handbag. I happened to pull up just as it was occurring,” she said, noting that the minivan is used for the sobriety home’s tasks.

Dramatic Chase Unfolds Across Multiple Counties

Officials located the stolen vehicle about 12 miles north in a nearby city, where they tried to initiate a traffic stop, but Wilson refused to stop and accelerated rapidly. She reached speeds of about 145km/h on the State Route 118 until the pursuit continued into LA County. At that juncture, Ventura county authorities transferred the pursuit to the California highway patrol once Wilson entered the Interstate 405 traveling southbound.

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

The suspect reportedly avoided all the tire-deflation devices tossed on the roadway by police, as documented in aerial videos.

Cross-Border Escape and Aftermath

The chase finally arrived at the US-Mexico border by early afternoon, leading to the CHP to terminate the chase due to legal limitations.

The vehicle owner indicated on the following day that the vehicle was situated in Tijuana, Mexico and that she was coordinating with the CHP to recover the vehicle.

“Ultimately, I’m not concerned with the car,” Walters 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 last October, acknowledges that the journey toward sobriety from substance abuse and emotional distress is often non-linear.

“This is a mental health and substance abuse crisis,” she said. “We need more support. It is essential to provide greater resources for those that are facing challenges.”

“Recovery can be messy,” she added.