Police search bushland in Sydney’s northwest for missing grandfather Chris Baghsarian
The search for a Sydney grandfather mistakenly believed to be the victim of a kidnapping has accelerated as police searched bushland in Sydney’s northwest.
Chris Baghsarian was abducted from his home in Sydney’s northern suburb of North Ryde in the early hours of February 13.
Police believe the 85-year-old was targeted by mistake, as the kidnappers captured someone they believed was linked to the illegal drug trade.
Almost two weeks after he went missing, police are focusing their search on woodland near the northern suburb of Glenorie.
In the images taken from the scene, it is seen that the police, including specialist police and a dog team, were scanning the forest area on Sunday.
The searches are expected to continue on Monday.
Last week police revealed that a “temporary stronghold” in the city’s semi-rural northwest was linked to the kidnapping.
In the early hours of Sunday, police appealed for information about a burnt-out Toyota Corolla stolen from Victoria and found in the western suburb of Westmead.
The car, along with another vehicle, was found vandalized three days after Mr. Baghsarian was taken away.
“The vehicles were partially destroyed, however detectives were able to identify the targeted vehicle as a 2022 Toyota Corolla bearing Victoria registration 1UZ2BU, which was reported stolen from an address in Victoria on Friday 13 January 2026,” a police spokesman said.
“Police are requesting further public assistance as an intensive investigation continues to locate Mr. Baghsarian and identify and arrest those responsible for his abduction.
“Anyone who has seen or heard anything about the abduction, or has CCTV, dashcam and/or mobile phone footage, or witnessed any suspicious activity in the Westmead area since last Friday is asked to contact detectives.”
A hostage video was sent to the family of the targeted person, which they forwarded to the police because they did not know Mr. Baghsarian.
Text messages from the intended target’s family to the kidnappers, seen by NewsWire this week, said: “Stupid stupid mistake, how did (sic) use get the wrong house?”
Another text reads: “My father would have cut off your head.”
Then: “Good luck, someone on your team will give up on you.”
A video shot by the kidnappers shows the grandfather’s face covered and his hands bound with duct tape.
Additionally, images of the man’s finger being cut off are also circulating.
Acting Detective Constable Andrew Marks said police raided the “temporary stronghold” in Dural on Thursday night and found evidence “indicating Mr Baghsarian had been held there for the past seven days”.
The property had been abandoned for years.
Detective Marks told reporters on Friday that Mr. Baghsarian’s family was “devastated” and that the family had not received a ransom demand.
“This is not the world they live in, it shocked them,” he said.
“They’re concerned, they’re distraught, and they want some answers. That’s why we’re here today; we’re working to get them more answers.”
“We are making progress in this investigation. We really want to find Mr. Baghsarian for them.”
