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A woman previously residing at a female recovery facility in California reportedly stole a minivan and led a hours-long law enforcement pursuit culminating with her traveling across the international boundary into Mexico on Monday.

Vehicle Theft Reported from Recovery Residence

As stated in a police announcement, a second woman, Nicolle Walters, forty-five years old, reported that her gray minivan from 2004 was missing, along with her vehicle key. The owner, who manages two women’s sober living homes, identified the suspect 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 arrived just as it was occurring,” Walters stated, adding that the vehicle is designated for the facility’s daily operations.

Dramatic Chase Unfolds Across Several Regions

Authorities tracked the van about 19 kilometers to the north in a nearby city, where they attempted to pull the vehicle over, but the suspect refused to stop and accelerated rapidly. 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 California highway patrol once Wilson entered the 405 freeway heading south.

“This one is particularly unusual in the sense of the traffic conditions enabling drivers to persist on the highway and prolong this chase,” said a spokesperson from the local law enforcement agency.

The suspect reportedly dodged all the spike strips deployed on the road by authorities, as seen in aerial videos.

Cross-Border Escape and Aftermath

The pursuit finally arrived at the international border by 1.30pm, prompting the CHP to end its pursuit due to legal limitations.

The vehicle owner indicated on the following day that the minivan was situated in Tijuana, Mexico and that she was coordinating with the authorities to recover the vehicle.

“Ultimately, I’m not worried about the car,” she said. “I’m relieved aware she was not injured. The minivan is easily substituted.”

Insight from the Facility Operator

The sober living home owner, who has run Diana’s House Sober Living since last October, recognizes that the path to recovery from addiction and trauma is often non-linear.

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

“Recovery can be messy,” she added.