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A woman formerly staying at a female recovery facility in California allegedly stole a minivan and engaged in a prolonged law enforcement pursuit culminating with her crossing the international boundary into the nation of Mexico on Monday.

Vehicle Theft Discovered from Sober Living Home

According to a police announcement, a another female, the owner of the vehicle, forty-five years old, notified authorities that her 2004 gray Toyota Sienna was missing, along with her car key. The owner, 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 LA.

“My keys were stolen from my house manager’s purse. I happened to pull up just as it was happening,” she said, noting that the vehicle is used for the sobriety home’s tasks.

Dramatic Chase Develops Across Several Regions

Authorities tracked the van about 12 miles to the north in a nearby city, 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 LA County. At that juncture, Ventura county authorities transferred the operation to the California highway patrol once the driver entered the 405 freeway traveling southbound.

“This one is very unique in the sense of the road situation enabling drivers to persist on the freeway and extend this chase,” said a spokesperson from the local law enforcement agency.

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

International Getaway and Aftermath

The chase finally arrived at the international border by early afternoon, leading to the highway patrol to terminate the chase due to legal limitations.

The vehicle owner stated on the following day that the vehicle was located in the Mexican city of Tijuana and that she was coordinating with the CHP to recover the vehicle.

“Ultimately, I’m not worried about the vehicle,” she remarked. “I’m relieved aware she was not injured. The car is replaceable.”

Insight from the Facility Operator

Walters, who has run Diana’s House Sober Living since October 2024, acknowledges that the path to recovery from addiction and trauma is not always linear.

“This represents a mental health and addiction emergency,” Walters emphasized. “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.