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A female individual previously residing at a female recovery facility in California reportedly stole a minivan and led a hours-long police chase ending with her crossing the border into the nation of Mexico on Monday.

Auto Theft Discovered from Recovery Residence

As stated in a law enforcement statement, a another female, the owner of the vehicle, 45, notified authorities that her gray minivan from 2004 was stolen, along with her vehicle key. The owner, who manages two female recovery residences, identified the alleged thief as Alyssa Wilson at Diana’s House Sober Living, situated approximately an hour’s drive of LA.

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

Dramatic Chase Develops Across Several Regions

Authorities located the stolen vehicle about 12 miles north in Simi Valley, where they tried to initiate a traffic stop, but Wilson did not comply and sped away. She reached speeds of about 90mph on the State Route 118 until the chase proceeded into LA County. At that point, Ventura county authorities handed over the operation to the CHP once the driver merged onto the Interstate 405 heading south.

“This incident is particularly unusual in the context of the traffic conditions enabling individuals to continue to remain on the highway and prolong this chase,” commented a spokesperson from the local law enforcement agency.

Wilson reportedly dodged all the tire-deflation devices deployed on the road by authorities, as seen in aerial videos.

International Getaway and Aftermath

The chase eventually reached the US-Mexico border by early afternoon, leading to the highway patrol to terminate the chase due to legal limitations.

The vehicle owner indicated on Tuesday that the minivan was situated in Tijuana, Mexico and that she was coordinating with the CHP to retrieve it.

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

Owner’s Perspective

Walters, who has run Diana’s House Sober Living since October 2024, acknowledges that the journey toward sobriety from substance abuse and emotional distress is often non-linear.

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

“The recovery process isn’t always pretty,” she added.