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A woman previously residing at a female recovery facility in the state of California allegedly stole a minivan and led a prolonged police chase ending with her crossing the international boundary into Mexico on Monday.

Vehicle Theft Discovered from Recovery Residence

As stated in a law enforcement statement, a second woman, the owner of the vehicle, forty-five years old, notified authorities that her 2004 gray Toyota Sienna was missing, along with her car key. Walters, who operates two women’s sober living homes, named the alleged thief as Alyssa Wilson at a recovery facility in Thousand Oaks, located approximately an hour’s drive of LA.

“My keys were stolen out of my house manager’s purse. I happened to pull up right when it was occurring,” she said, adding that the minivan is used for the facility’s daily operations.

High-Speed Pursuit Unfolds Across Several Regions

Authorities located the stolen vehicle about 12 miles 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 145km/h on the 118 freeway until the chase continued into LA County. At that point, Ventura county authorities handed over the pursuit to the California highway patrol once the driver entered the Interstate 405 heading south.

“This incident is very unique in the context of the road situation enabling drivers to continue to remain on the highway and extend this chase,” commented a public information officer from the local law enforcement agency.

Wilson reportedly avoided all the tire-deflation devices tossed on the road by authorities, as documented in aerial videos.

Cross-Border Escape and Aftermath Developments

The pursuit eventually reached the international border by early afternoon, prompting the CHP to terminate the chase due to jurisdictional constraints.

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

“Ultimately, I’m not worried about the car,” she remarked. “I’m relieved aware she wasn’t hurt. The car is easily substituted.”

Insight from the Facility Operator

The sober living home owner, who has run Diana’s House Sober Living since October 2024, recognizes that the path to recovery from addiction and trauma is often non-linear.

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

“Recovery can be messy,” Walters concluded.