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A female individual previously residing at a women’s sobriety home in California allegedly stole a minivan and led a hours-long law enforcement pursuit culminating with her crossing the border into the nation of Mexico on the start of the week.

Vehicle Theft Reported from Recovery Residence

As stated in a law enforcement announcement, a another female, Nicolle Walters, 45, reported that her 2004 gray Toyota Sienna was missing, along with her vehicle key. The owner, who operates two female recovery residences, named the suspect as Alyssa Wilson at a recovery facility in Thousand Oaks, located approximately 60 minutes north-west of LA.

“The keys were stolen out of my house manager’s purse. I happened to pull up just as it was occurring,” Walters stated, adding that the minivan is used for the sobriety home’s tasks.

Dramatic Chase Develops Across Several Regions

Officials tracked the van about 19 kilometers north in Simi Valley, where they attempted to pull the vehicle over, but Wilson refused to stop and sped away. She attained speeds of about 145km/h on the 118 freeway until the chase proceeded into Los Angeles county. At that juncture, local sheriff’s deputies handed over the pursuit to the California highway patrol once Wilson entered the 405 freeway traveling southbound.

“This incident is particularly unusual in the sense of the traffic conditions allowing drivers to persist on the highway and prolong this pursuit,” commented a spokesperson from the Ventura county sheriff’s office.

The suspect reportedly dodged all the tire-deflation devices deployed on the road by police, as seen in footage from above.

International Getaway and Aftermath

The chase eventually reached the US-Mexico border by early afternoon, prompting the CHP to terminate the chase due to jurisdictional constraints.

Walters stated on Tuesday that the minivan was situated in Tijuana, Mexico and that she was coordinating with the authorities to recover the vehicle.

“Ultimately, I’m not concerned with the car,” Walters remarked. “I’m relieved aware she wasn’t hurt. The car 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 substance abuse and trauma is not always linear.

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

“The recovery process isn’t always pretty,” Walters concluded.