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A female individual formerly staying at a female recovery facility in California reportedly stole a minivan and engaged in a hours-long law enforcement pursuit ending with her crossing the border into Mexico on Monday.

Vehicle Theft Reported from Recovery Residence

According to a police statement, a second woman, the owner of the vehicle, forty-five years old, reported that her gray minivan from 2004 was missing, 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, situated approximately 60 minutes north-west of LA.

“The keys were taken from my house manager’s purse. I arrived right when it was happening,” Walters stated, adding that the vehicle is designated for the facility’s daily operations.

Dramatic Chase Develops Across Multiple Counties

Officials located the stolen vehicle about 12 miles to the north in Simi Valley, where they attempted to pull the vehicle over, but Wilson did not comply and sped away. She reached speeds of about 90mph on the State Route 118 until the pursuit proceeded into Los Angeles county. At that juncture, Ventura county authorities transferred the operation to the California highway patrol once the driver entered the 405 freeway heading south.

“This one is very unique in the context of the traffic conditions allowing individuals to persist on the highway and extend this chase,” said a public information officer from the local law enforcement agency.

Wilson allegedly avoided all the spike strips tossed on the road by police, as documented in footage from above.

International Getaway and Aftermath

The pursuit eventually reached the international border by 1.30pm, leading to the highway patrol to terminate the chase due to jurisdictional constraints.

The vehicle owner stated on the following day that the vehicle was located in Tijuana, Mexico and that she was coordinating with the CHP to recover the vehicle.

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

Insight from the Facility Operator

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

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

“Recovery can be messy,” Walters concluded.