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A woman formerly staying at a female recovery facility in the state of California reportedly took a stolen van and led a prolonged law enforcement pursuit ending with her crossing the international boundary into the nation of Mexico on the start of the week.

Auto Theft Discovered from Sober Living Home

According to a police statement, a another female, Nicolle Walters, 45, reported that her gray minivan from 2004 was stolen, along with her car key. Walters, who operates two female recovery residences, identified the alleged thief as Alyssa Wilson at a recovery facility in Thousand Oaks, located approximately 60 minutes north-west 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 facility’s daily operations.

High-Speed Pursuit Develops Across Multiple Counties

Authorities tracked the stolen vehicle about 12 miles north in a nearby city, where they tried to initiate a traffic stop, but the suspect did not comply and sped away. She attained speeds of about 90mph on the 118 freeway until the chase continued into Los Angeles county. At that juncture, local sheriff’s deputies transferred the operation to the California highway patrol once the driver merged onto the Interstate 405 heading south.

“This one is particularly unusual in the sense of the road situation allowing individuals to continue to remain on the highway and extend this pursuit,” said a spokesperson from the local law enforcement agency.

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

Cross-Border Escape and Aftermath Developments

The pursuit eventually reached the international border by early afternoon, leading to the highway patrol to end its pursuit due to jurisdictional constraints.

The vehicle owner indicated on Tuesday that the vehicle was located in the Mexican city of Tijuana and that she was working with the CHP to recover the vehicle.

“At the end of the day, I’m not worried about the vehicle,” she remarked. “I’m more at ease aware she was not injured. The minivan is easily substituted.”

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 substance abuse and emotional distress is often non-linear.

“This is a psychological and substance abuse emergency,” Walters emphasized. “There is a need for more support. It is essential to provide greater resources for those that are struggling.”

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