Police say 'hope fading' to find kidnapped Sydney grandfather
Police say "hope is fading" to find alive an abducted 85-year-old man after they raided a derelict house in north-west Sydney believed to have been used by his kidnappers.
Grandfather Chris Baghsarian has been missing for seven days after he was snatched from his Sydney home in what detectives say was a case of mistaken identity.
Police have given an update on their search yesterday of an abandoned property at Wildthorn Avenue in the semi-rural suburb of Dural.
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Police hold fears for the safety of Chris Baghsarian. NSW Police
NSW police forensic officers at a crime scene on Wildthorn Avenue in Dural investigating the kidnapping of Chris Baghsarian. Dural, NSW. February 20, 2026. Kate Geraghty
NSW police forensic officers at a property on Wildthorn Avenue in Dural which has been established as a crime scene investigating the kidnapping of Chris Baghsarian. Dural, NSW. February 20, 2026. Kate Geraghty
Detective Superintendent Andrew Marks said investigators believe Baghsarian was held at the "suspicious house" at some time over the past week.
"We haven't found Mr Baghsarian and that is our main focus, to recover Mr Baghsarian and bring him home safely to his family and get him the medical treatment he required," he said.
"It has been seven days now, so hope is fading. We have grave concerns for his safety. But we won't give up trying to find him alive."
Marks confirmed videos and images discovered at the property were consistent with a widely circulated video of Baghsarian circulated this week.
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Commander of the Robbery & Serious Crime Squad, Detective Acting Superintendent Andrew Marks, addresses the media after a crime scene linked to the kidnapping of Chris Baghsarian was located. Supplied
Police search the property on Wildthorn Avenue in Dural on Thursday, February 19. (Photo: Kate Geraghty/SMH) Kate Geraghty
He said it was a case of "good old-fashioned police work", with "boots on the ground" that led investigators to the Dural property.
Baghsarian was kidnapped from his home in North Ryde just after 5am last Friday.
His family have pleaded for the elderly grandfather to be released by his captors and police have set up Strike Force Chobat.
Police are appealing to anyone who may have seen or heard anything relating to the kidnapping or witnessed any sort of suspicious activity in the Dural area since last Friday ito contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
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