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A woman formerly staying at a female recovery facility in the state of California allegedly took a stolen van and engaged in a prolonged law enforcement pursuit culminating with her crossing the border into the nation of Mexico on Monday.

Auto Theft Discovered from Recovery Residence

According to a police statement, a second woman, the owner of the vehicle, forty-five years old, reported that her 2004 gray Toyota Sienna was stolen, along with her vehicle key. Walters, who operates two women’s sober living homes, identified the alleged thief as Alyssa Wilson at a recovery facility in Thousand Oaks, located approximately 60 minutes north-west of LA.

“The keys were taken from my manager’s handbag. I happened to pull up right when it was occurring,” she said, noting that the minivan is used for the facility’s daily operations.

Dramatic Chase Unfolds Across Multiple Counties

Authorities located the van about 19 kilometers to the north in a nearby city, where they attempted to initiate a traffic stop, but the suspect refused to stop and sped away. She attained speeds of about 90mph on the State Route 118 until the pursuit continued into LA County. At that point, Ventura county authorities transferred the pursuit to the CHP once the driver merged onto the 405 freeway traveling southbound.

“This one is very unique in the context of the traffic conditions enabling drivers 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 authorities, as documented in footage from above.

International Getaway and Aftermath

The pursuit eventually reached the US-Mexico border by 1.30pm, leading to the highway patrol to end its pursuit due to legal limitations.

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

“Ultimately, I’m not worried about the car,” she said. “I’m more at ease aware she wasn’t hurt. The car is replaceable.”

Insight from the Facility Operator

Walters, who has operated Diana’s House Sober Living since last October, acknowledges that the journey toward sobriety from substance abuse and trauma is often non-linear.

“This represents a mental health and addiction emergency,” Walters emphasized. “There is a need for additional assistance. We need greater resources for those that are facing challenges.”

“The recovery process isn’t always pretty,” she added.