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

Vehicle Theft Reported from Sober Living Home

According to a law enforcement statement, a second woman, the owner of the vehicle, 45, reported that her gray minivan from 2004 was missing, along with her car key. Walters, who manages two female recovery residences, named the alleged thief as Alyssa Wilson at a recovery facility in Thousand Oaks, situated approximately 60 minutes north-west of Los Angeles.

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

High-Speed Pursuit Develops Across Several Regions

Authorities located the van about 19 kilometers north in Simi Valley, where they tried to pull the vehicle over, but Wilson refused to stop and sped away. She attained speeds of about 145km/h on the State Route 118 until the pursuit continued into Los Angeles county. At that juncture, Ventura county authorities transferred the operation to the CHP once the driver entered the 405 freeway traveling southbound.

“This one is very unique in the sense of the road situation allowing individuals to continue to remain on the freeway and extend this pursuit,” said a spokesperson from the Ventura county sheriff’s office.

Wilson reportedly avoided all the tire-deflation devices tossed on the roadway by authorities, as documented in footage from above.

Cross-Border Escape and Aftermath

The pursuit eventually reached the international border by early afternoon, prompting the CHP to end its pursuit due to legal limitations.

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

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

Insight from the Facility Operator

The sober living home owner, who has run the recovery residence since October 2024, acknowledges that the journey toward sobriety from substance abuse and trauma is often non-linear.

“This is a psychological and substance abuse crisis,” Walters emphasized. “We need additional assistance. It is essential to provide greater resources for those that are facing challenges.”

“The recovery process can be messy,” she added.