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A woman formerly staying at a female recovery facility in the state of California allegedly stole a minivan and led a hours-long law enforcement pursuit ending with her crossing the border into Mexico on Monday.

Auto Theft Reported from Recovery Residence

According to a police announcement, a another female, the owner of the vehicle, forty-five years old, notified authorities that her gray minivan from 2004 was stolen, along with her car key. The owner, who manages two women’s sober living homes, named the alleged thief as Alyssa Wilson at Diana’s House Sober Living, situated approximately an hour’s drive of LA.

“The keys were stolen out of my manager’s handbag. I arrived right when it was happening,” Walters stated, adding that the vehicle is designated for the sobriety home’s tasks.

Dramatic Chase Unfolds Across Several Regions

Officials tracked the stolen vehicle about 19 kilometers north in Simi Valley, where they attempted to pull the vehicle over, but Wilson did not comply and accelerated rapidly. She attained speeds of about 90mph on the State Route 118 until the pursuit proceeded into Los Angeles county. At that juncture, local sheriff’s deputies handed over the operation to the California highway patrol once the driver entered the Interstate 405 traveling southbound.

“This one is particularly unusual in the context of the road situation allowing drivers to continue to remain on the freeway and prolong this chase,” commented a public information officer from the Ventura county sheriff’s office.

Wilson allegedly avoided all the spike strips deployed on the road by police, as seen 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 legal limitations.

The vehicle owner indicated on the following day that the minivan was situated in the Mexican city of Tijuana and that she was working with the authorities to recover the vehicle.

“Ultimately, I’m not worried about the vehicle,” Walters said. “I’m relieved aware she wasn’t hurt. The car is replaceable.”

Insight from the Facility Operator

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

“This is a mental health and addiction crisis,” she said. “There is a need for additional assistance. It is essential to provide more resources for those that are struggling.”

“Recovery can be messy,” Walters concluded.