🔗 Share this article

A woman formerly staying at a female recovery facility in California allegedly stole a minivan and led a prolonged police chase ending with her crossing the border into the nation of Mexico on the start of the week.

Vehicle Theft Reported from Sober Living Home

According to a police announcement, a second woman, 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 women’s sober living homes, named the suspect as Alyssa Wilson at a recovery facility in Thousand Oaks, situated approximately an hour’s drive of LA.

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

Dramatic Chase Unfolds Across Several Regions

Authorities tracked the van about 19 kilometers north in Simi Valley, where they attempted to pull the vehicle over, but the suspect did not comply and accelerated rapidly. She attained speeds of about 145km/h on the State Route 118 until the chase continued into LA County. At that juncture, Ventura county authorities transferred the pursuit to the CHP once Wilson entered the Interstate 405 traveling southbound.

“This incident is particularly unusual in the context of the traffic conditions enabling individuals to persist on the freeway and extend this pursuit,” commented a spokesperson from the Ventura county sheriff’s office.

Wilson reportedly dodged all the tire-deflation devices tossed on the road by authorities, as seen in footage from above.

International Getaway and Aftermath

The chase finally arrived at the international border by early afternoon, prompting the CHP to end its pursuit due to legal limitations.

Walters indicated on the following day that the vehicle was located in the Mexican city of Tijuana and that she was coordinating with the CHP to retrieve it.

“Ultimately, I’m not concerned with the vehicle,” she said. “I’m relieved aware she was not injured. The car is replaceable.”

Insight from the Facility Operator

The sober living home owner, who has run Diana’s House Sober Living since October 2024, recognizes that the path to recovery 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 more support. We need more resources for those that are struggling.”

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