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A woman formerly staying at a women’s sobriety home in the state of California allegedly stole a minivan and engaged in a prolonged police chase culminating with her crossing the border into Mexico on Monday.

Auto Theft Reported from Recovery Residence

According to a law enforcement announcement, a another female, Nicolle Walters, 45, notified authorities that her gray minivan from 2004 was missing, along with her car key. The owner, who operates two women’s sober living homes, identified the alleged thief as Alyssa Wilson at Diana’s House Sober Living, located approximately an hour’s drive of LA.

“The keys were taken from my house manager’s purse. I arrived right when it was occurring,” Walters stated, noting that the minivan is designated for the sobriety home’s tasks.

High-Speed Pursuit Unfolds Across Multiple Counties

Officials located the stolen vehicle about 12 miles to the north in Simi Valley, where they tried to pull the vehicle over, but the suspect did not comply and accelerated rapidly. She attained 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 405 freeway traveling southbound.

“This incident is very unique in the context of the traffic conditions allowing individuals to continue to remain on the highway and extend this chase,” commented a spokesperson from the Ventura county sheriff’s office.

The suspect reportedly avoided all the tire-deflation devices deployed on the roadway by police, as documented in footage from above.

Cross-Border Escape and Aftermath Developments

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

Walters stated on the following day that the vehicle was situated in Tijuana, Mexico and that she was coordinating with the authorities to retrieve it.

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

Insight from the Facility Operator

The sober living home owner, who has run the recovery residence since October 2024, acknowledges that the path to recovery from addiction and emotional distress is not always linear.

“This is a mental health and addiction crisis,” she said. “There is a need for additional assistance. It is essential to provide more resources for those that are facing challenges.”

“Recovery can be messy,” Walters concluded.