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A female individual formerly staying at a female recovery facility in California reportedly took a stolen van and engaged in a hours-long police chase culminating with her crossing the international boundary into the nation of Mexico on Monday.

Auto Theft Reported from Recovery Residence

According to a police announcement, a second woman, the owner of the vehicle, 45, reported that her gray minivan from 2004 was missing, 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 Los Angeles.

“The keys were stolen out of my manager’s handbag. I arrived right when it was happening,” she said, noting that the minivan is designated for the sobriety home’s tasks.

Dramatic Chase Unfolds Across Multiple Counties

Officials located the van about 19 kilometers north in a nearby city, where they tried to initiate a traffic stop, but the suspect did not comply and sped away. She reached speeds of about 145km/h on the State Route 118 until the chase proceeded into Los Angeles county. At that juncture, Ventura county authorities handed over the operation to the CHP once the driver entered the Interstate 405 traveling southbound.

“This one is particularly unusual in the context of the traffic conditions enabling individuals to continue to remain on the highway and extend this pursuit,” said a spokesperson from the Ventura county sheriff’s office.

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

Cross-Border Escape and Aftermath Developments

The chase eventually reached the international border by 1.30pm, leading to the CHP to terminate the chase due to legal limitations.

Walters stated on Tuesday that the minivan was located in Tijuana, Mexico and that she was working with the CHP to retrieve it.

“Ultimately, I’m not worried about the vehicle,” she said. “I’m relieved knowing she was not injured. The car is easily substituted.”

Owner’s Perspective

Walters, who has run the recovery residence since October 2024, recognizes that the path to recovery from addiction and trauma is often non-linear.

“This represents a mental health and addiction emergency,” Walters emphasized. “We need more support. We need more resources for those that are struggling.”

“Recovery isn’t always pretty,” Walters concluded.