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A woman formerly staying at a female recovery facility in California allegedly took a stolen van and led a prolonged police chase ending with her crossing the international boundary into the nation of Mexico on Monday.

Auto Theft Reported from Sober Living Home

As stated in a law enforcement announcement, a second woman, Nicolle Walters, forty-five years old, notified authorities that her 2004 gray Toyota Sienna was stolen, along with her car key. The owner, who operates two women’s sober living homes, named the alleged thief as Alyssa Wilson at a recovery facility in Thousand Oaks, situated approximately 60 minutes north-west of Los Angeles.

“The keys were taken out of my house manager’s purse. I happened to pull up just as it was happening,” she said, adding that the minivan is used for the facility’s daily operations.

High-Speed Pursuit Unfolds Across Several Regions

Authorities tracked the stolen vehicle about 19 kilometers to the north in Simi Valley, where they tried to initiate a traffic stop, but the suspect refused to stop and sped away. She attained speeds of about 145km/h on the 118 freeway until the chase proceeded into LA County. At that juncture, local sheriff’s deputies transferred the pursuit to the CHP once the driver merged onto the Interstate 405 traveling southbound.

“This one is particularly unusual in the context of the traffic conditions enabling drivers to continue to remain on the highway and prolong this pursuit,” said a spokesperson from the Ventura county sheriff’s office.

The suspect allegedly avoided all the spike strips tossed on the roadway by authorities, as documented in footage from above.

International Getaway and Aftermath

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

The vehicle owner stated on the following day that the minivan was located in Tijuana, Mexico and that she was working with the authorities to retrieve it.

“At the end of the day, I’m not worried about the car,” Walters said. “I’m more at ease knowing she wasn’t hurt. The car is easily substituted.”

Insight from the Facility Operator

Walters, who has run the recovery residence since last October, acknowledges that the journey toward sobriety from addiction and trauma is often non-linear.

“This is a psychological and addiction crisis,” Walters emphasized. “We need more support. It is essential to provide more resources for those that are struggling.”

“Recovery isn’t always pretty,” she added.