Police have extracted forensic evidence from a burnt-out car with cloned plates found in north-west Sydney in the search for kidnapped grandfather Chris Baghsarian.

The investigation into the 85-year-old’s mistaken abduction has intensified today as officers comb through dense bushland in Glenorie, located about 44 kilometres from the city centre, as hopes of finding him alive beginning to fade.

A 2022 model Toyota Corolla found burned out in Westmead with cloned plates has now been forensically linked to a property in Dural, where police believe suspects in the case may have stayed in the aftermath of the kidnapping.

 

Police yesterday said the the car, bearing Victorian registration 1UZ2BU, was torched and dumped just before midnight last Tuesday.

The car was using the cloned plate DVT007, police confirmed today.

“We’re able to say that that vehicle was placed in Good Street on Saturday the 14th of February,” Superintendent Andrew Marks said.

“It was not burnt out until 11.30pm on Monday the 16th of February.”

The same car had also been spotted near the kidnappers’ “stronghold” in Dural.

Marks urged anyone with information regarding the grey Corolla to come forward.

“Do you have any footage or any dashcam footage of the grey Corolla in that area and any other persons attached to a car or anything suspicious around that vehicle?” Marks added.

Marks said police hoped they would find Baghsarian alive.

“Everyday, as I said last time, concerns grow… It’s not a great feeling that we have in relation to his health and his survival,” he added.


Baghsarian has been missing since February 13.© 9News


NSW Police Superintendent Andrew Marks urged anyone with information to come forward.© 9News

Baghsarian has been missing since February 13 when he was snatched from his home in North Ryde, in what detectives say was a case of mistaken identity.

Marks said investigators believe the intended target is “safe and not in danger”.

A police helicopter was among units deployed in the search at Glenorie yesterday.

Officers returned this morning, and are expected to deploy the dog squad and helicopter in the coming hours as they attempt to track Baghsarian and his abductors.

 


The search for Chris Baghsarian has turned to remote bushland in Glenorie, north-west of Sydney.© Nine

Police raided the building, which they described as a “stronghold” for his abductors last Friday and seized evidence. It included disturbing images of Baghsarian and his alleged kidnappers.

His family have pleaded for the elderly grandfather, who depends on daily medication, 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 to contact Crime Stoppers.