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A woman formerly staying at a female recovery facility in California reportedly took a stolen van and led a prolonged police chase ending with her traveling across the border into the nation of Mexico on Monday.

Vehicle Theft Reported from Recovery Residence

According to a law enforcement statement, a another female, Nicolle Walters, 45, reported that her 2004 gray Toyota Sienna was stolen, along with her car key. The owner, who manages 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 house manager’s purse. I happened to pull up just as it was happening,” she said, noting that the minivan is used for the sobriety home’s tasks.

Dramatic Chase Develops Across Multiple Counties

Officials tracked the stolen vehicle about 12 miles north in a nearby city, where they tried to initiate a traffic stop, but the suspect refused to stop and accelerated rapidly. She reached speeds of about 145km/h on the 118 freeway until the chase continued into LA County. At that juncture, Ventura county authorities handed over the operation to the California highway patrol once Wilson merged onto the 405 freeway heading south.

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

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

Cross-Border Escape and Aftermath

The pursuit eventually reached the US-Mexico border by early afternoon, leading to the highway patrol to end its pursuit due to jurisdictional constraints.

The vehicle owner indicated 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 worried about the vehicle,” she said. “I’m relieved knowing she wasn’t hurt. The car is easily substituted.”

Insight from the Facility Operator

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

“This represents a psychological and substance abuse emergency,” Walters emphasized. “We need additional assistance. We need more resources for those that are struggling.”

“The recovery process can be messy,” Walters concluded.