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A female individual formerly staying at a female recovery facility in the state of California reportedly stole a minivan and led a hours-long law enforcement pursuit culminating with her traveling across the international boundary into Mexico on Monday.

Vehicle Theft Reported from Recovery Residence

As stated in a law enforcement statement, a second woman, Nicolle Walters, forty-five years old, notified authorities that her 2004 gray Toyota Sienna was stolen, along with her vehicle key. The owner, who operates two female recovery residences, named the alleged thief as Alyssa Wilson at Diana’s House Sober Living, located approximately an hour’s drive of LA.

“The keys were taken out of my manager’s handbag. I happened to pull up just as it was occurring,” she said, adding that the vehicle is designated for the sobriety home’s tasks.

High-Speed Pursuit Unfolds Across Multiple Counties

Authorities tracked the van about 19 kilometers north in a nearby city, where they attempted to initiate a traffic stop, but Wilson refused to stop and accelerated rapidly. She reached speeds of about 145km/h on the State Route 118 until the pursuit proceeded into Los Angeles county. At that point, Ventura county authorities transferred the operation to the California highway patrol once the driver entered the Interstate 405 traveling southbound.

“This incident is very unique in the sense of the road situation enabling drivers to continue to remain on the highway and extend this chase,” said a public information officer from the Ventura county sheriff’s office.

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

International Getaway and Aftermath

The pursuit finally arrived at the international border by early afternoon, prompting the highway patrol to terminate the chase due to jurisdictional constraints.

The vehicle owner indicated on the following day that the vehicle was located in Tijuana, Mexico and that she was coordinating with the authorities to retrieve it.

“At the end of the day, I’m not concerned with the vehicle,” she said. “I’m relieved knowing she was not injured. The minivan is replaceable.”

Owner’s Perspective

Walters, who has operated Diana’s House Sober Living since last October, acknowledges that the path to recovery from substance abuse and trauma is not always linear.

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

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