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A female individual previously residing at a women’s sobriety home in California reportedly stole a minivan and led a prolonged law enforcement pursuit culminating with her crossing the international boundary into Mexico on Monday.

Auto Theft Reported from Recovery Residence

As stated in a law enforcement statement, a second woman, the owner of the vehicle, 45, reported that her 2004 gray Toyota Sienna was stolen, along with her vehicle key. Walters, who manages two women’s sober living homes, named the alleged thief as Alyssa Wilson at Diana’s House Sober Living, located approximately 60 minutes north-west of LA.

“The keys were stolen from my manager’s handbag. I arrived just as it was happening,” she said, adding that the vehicle is designated for the sobriety home’s tasks.

Dramatic Chase Unfolds Across Several Regions

Officials located the van about 12 miles north in a nearby city, where they tried to initiate a traffic stop, but Wilson did not comply and accelerated rapidly. She reached speeds of about 145km/h on the State Route 118 until the chase continued into Los Angeles county. At that point, local sheriff’s deputies handed over the pursuit to the CHP once Wilson merged onto the 405 freeway traveling southbound.

“This incident is particularly unusual in the sense of the road situation enabling individuals to persist on the highway and prolong this chase,” said a public information officer from the local law enforcement agency.

The suspect allegedly avoided all the spike strips deployed on the roadway by police, as documented in aerial videos.

Cross-Border Escape and Aftermath Developments

The pursuit eventually reached the international border by early afternoon, prompting the highway patrol to end its pursuit due to jurisdictional constraints.

Walters indicated on Tuesday that the vehicle was situated in Tijuana, Mexico and that she was coordinating with the CHP to recover the vehicle.

“Ultimately, I’m not concerned with the vehicle,” she remarked. “I’m relieved knowing she wasn’t hurt. The car is easily substituted.”

Owner’s Perspective

Walters, who has operated the recovery residence since October 2024, recognizes that the journey toward sobriety from substance abuse and trauma is not always linear.

“This is a mental health and substance abuse crisis,” she said. “There is a need for more support. It is essential to provide more resources for those that are struggling.”

“The recovery process can be messy,” Walters concluded.