An 85-year-old Sydney grandfather remains missing after being violently taken from his home in what police believe was a case of mistaken identity linked to organised crime.
Chris Baghsarian was dragged from his bedroom just before 5am on Friday after three men allegedly forced entry into his North Ryde home. Neighbours reported waking to the sound of smashing glass and desperate cries for help.
Security footage later released by police shows a dark Toyota pulling into Northcott Street in the pre-dawn darkness. A man wearing high-visibility clothing is seen stepping out, followed by another man. Moments later, the elderly resident is pushed across the front landing and forced into the vehicle.
Police say the 85-year-old widower, who lives alone, has no criminal connections. Detectives from the robbery and serious crime squad are investigating whether the kidnappers were targeting a different man in the area with alleged links to the Alameddine crime network.
“This is the wrong person,” Detective Acting Superintendent Andrew Marks told reporters, issuing a direct plea to those responsible. “You have the wrong man. Tell us where he is and we will do the rest.”
The Toyota believed to have been used in the abduction was later found burnt out in nearby North Turramurra, a development that has only intensified fears for Mr Baghsarian’s safety.
Disturbing video footage, reportedly circulated among criminal figures overseas, allegedly shows the elderly man bound and assaulted. Police have not publicly detailed the content but have confirmed they are deeply concerned for his welfare.
Mr Baghsarian is described as frail and reliant on daily medication. Authorities warn that without proper medical care, his condition could deteriorate rapidly.
His family, blindsided by the ordeal, are pleading for his safe return. Friends and neighbours say he has lived quietly in the area for years and cannot comprehend why he would be targeted.
Investigators continue to examine whether the kidnapping was intended as part of an underworld dispute that went badly wrong. For now, the focus remains on bringing the grandfather home safely.
Police are urging anyone with information, CCTV footage or dashcam vision from the North Ryde or North Turramurra areas in the early hours of Friday morning to come forward.
As the hours stretch into days, the message from authorities remains urgent and simple: release him safely.
