Alison Chao, Calif. Teen Who Went Missing During Bike Ride Last Week, Found Safe

One woman recognized 15-year-old Alison Jillian Chao on the morning of Tuesday, July 23, seven days after the teen first went missing

• Alison Jillian Chao, 15, was located on July 23 after she went missing the evening of July 16

• The teenage girl was located by a woman in Glendale, Calif. who recognized the young girl from the photos

• Both Alison's parents, Annie and Jeffery, have expressed their gratitude to the public for their help the past week

The 15-year-old girl who went missing in Los Angeles County on Tuesday, July 16 was found safe in Glendale, Calif. on Tuesday, July 23, per a Monterey Park Police Department press release.

Alison Jillian Chao was first reported missing last week after she left her father’s home in Monterey Park, Calif., around 5:30 p.m. and was headed on her bike to her aunt’s house in San Gabriel, Calif. Then, around 8 p.m. that evening, her aunt called her father, Jeffery Chao, to report that Alison had never arrived at her house, per KTLA.

The Monterey Park Police Department announced that Chao was found and thanked the community members “and the many local, state and federal partners for their assistance during the investigation."

Related: Calif. Teen Disappears While Riding Bike to Visit Family: ‘I Haven't Slept in Days,' Says Mom

On the morning of July 23, a security guard at KABC in Glendale spotted the teenager walking and being followed by a woman in her car. The woman recognized Alison as the missing minor, per ABC 7.

The 47-year-old Glendale woman — who declined to be publicly identified — was getting coffee when she recognized Alison as she walked by her car, per the Los Angeles Times.

“Something about the way she was walking, it didn’t seem like she was going to someplace in particular,” the woman said. “Some little voice said, ‘I think that’s the girl. You should follow her.’ ”

The woman explained that she noticed Alison walk past the KABC security guard and then promptly alerted him. The woman told the LA Times that Alison told her and the security guard that she ran away from home and didn’t want to go back. Alison said she was en route to KABC to share her side of the story.

Alison’s father and her aunt thanked the public for their assistance during a July 23 press conference, per ABC 7.

"I really appreciate everyone coming out," said Jeffery. "I'd really like to thank all the friends, the community that come out and helped find her. We've been really worried about where she's been. And really appreciate what everybody's done and helped out with."

During the press conference, Alison’s family confirmed her mother, Annie, was recently granted temporary custody of the teen.

Related: Missing Teen with Autism Found at New Mexico Walmart, About 200 Miles from Arizona Home

Attorney Gregory E. Almas provided a statement to PEOPLE on behalf of Alison’s mother, Annie: "I am incredibly relieved that Alison has been found safe. My love for Alison is unconditional and unwavering. Alison is my only child and she means everything to me. I understand that there was a good samaritan who helped to escort her to the police and I specifically want to thank that person for their kindness."

Annie thanked the community for the help the past week, adding, "I am committed to doing everything possible to help Alison move forward and heal in the days and weeks ahead."

She concluded the statement by acknowledging her daughter's reaction to her parents' recent divorce. "Alison is a young girl and her feelings about my divorce from her father are understandably complicated, but she has a family (both my side and her dad’s side) that loves and adores her," adding that she will "always do [her] best to protect Alison’s interests."

Alison’s court-appointed attorney, Emily Robinson, confirmed with PEOPLE that Annie has sole custody of Alison and was previously awarded “sole decision-making authority.”

“This is a very complex situation that should not be in the public forum. It is being rendered even more damaging to Alison by misleading and inaccurate social media posts from third parties that have virtually no understanding of the facts,” Robinson wrote in a statement to PEOPLE, adding that she is working to get the social media posts taken down.

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Representatives for the Monterey Park Police Department and Glendale Police Department did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for more information on Tuesday.

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