The police search for kidnapped 85-year-old grandfather Chris Baghsarian has today returned to remote bushland north-west of Sydney.
Officers have been searching thick bushland at Glenorie, 44kms from the city centre, as hopes of finding him alive fade.
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.
READ MORE: Gunman shot dead at Trump's Florida home of Mar-a-Lago identified as missing 21-year-old
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.
Yesterday detectives said a 2022 model Toyota Corolla found burned out in Westmead last Tuesday night had been linked to a property in Dural, where they believe suspects in the case may have stayed in the aftermath of the kidnapping.
Police believe the car, bearing Victorian registration 1UZ2BU, was torched and dumped just before midnight last Tuesday.
Detectives believe that same car, which was allegedly stolen from Victoria before Baghsarian went missing, had travelled from the abandoned property at Dural.
READ MORE: 'I felt defamed': The Perth mum and business owner cancelled by Meta's AI
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.
Senior police said last Friday hopes of finding Baghsarian alive were "fading".
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.
NEVER MISS A STORY: Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all platforms.
- Download the 9NEWS App here via Apple and Google Play
- Make 9News your preferred source on Google by ticking this box here
- Sign up to our breaking newsletter here
