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A female individual formerly staying at a female recovery facility in California allegedly stole a minivan and engaged in a prolonged law enforcement pursuit ending with her traveling across the border into the nation of Mexico on Monday.

Auto Theft Discovered from Sober Living Home

According to a law enforcement announcement, a second woman, the owner of the vehicle, forty-five years old, notified authorities that her 2004 gray Toyota Sienna was missing, along with her car key. Walters, who manages two female recovery residences, named the alleged thief as Alyssa Wilson at a recovery facility in Thousand Oaks, located approximately 60 minutes north-west of Los Angeles.

“My keys were stolen out of my manager’s handbag. I happened to pull up right when it was occurring,” Walters stated, adding that the minivan is designated for the facility’s daily operations.

High-Speed Pursuit Unfolds Across Several Regions

Authorities tracked the stolen vehicle about 19 kilometers north in Simi Valley, where they tried to pull the vehicle over, but the suspect did not comply and accelerated rapidly. She reached speeds of about 90mph on the State Route 118 until the chase proceeded into Los Angeles county. At that point, local sheriff’s deputies transferred the pursuit to the CHP once the driver merged onto the 405 freeway traveling southbound.

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

Wilson reportedly avoided all the spike strips deployed on the roadway by authorities, as documented in aerial videos.

International Getaway and Aftermath

The chase eventually reached the US-Mexico border by early afternoon, leading to the highway patrol to end its pursuit due to legal limitations.

The vehicle owner stated on the following day that the minivan 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,” Walters said. “I’m relieved knowing she wasn’t hurt. The car is easily substituted.”

Owner’s Perspective

Walters, who has operated the recovery residence since last October, acknowledges that the path to recovery from substance abuse and emotional distress is not always linear.

“This is a mental health and substance abuse emergency,” Walters emphasized. “We need additional assistance. We need more resources for those that are struggling.”

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