Australian police "fear for the safety" of an 85-year-old man, kidnapped from his Sydney home last week in what is believed to be a case of mistaken identity.
Police believe that a group of people grabbed Chris Baghsarian, a grandfather who was living alone, from his bedroom and bundled him into a car before driving off at 5am on Friday (local time).
Investigators believe the man, who requires medical help, was taken in a case of mistaken identity, and urged his return.
Acting Superintendent Andrew Marks said last week: "You have the wrong person … Take him to a hospital. Take him to somewhere that's safe, and we'll do the rest."
Now, as fears grow for the widower, police have shared security footage of the kidnapping.
The video shows a dark Toyota, later found burned out, pulling into the street in North Ryde. A man wearing high-vis clothing can be spotted hopping out, followed by an accomplice.
The duo were then seen pushing the man across the landing as the vehicle moved into position.
Witnesses to the incident said they could hear screaming and glass smashing as the man was put into the car.
"The screaming just kept on going, and then it was muffled, so I ended up looking outside, and I saw the guy popping into his car and fleeing off," neighbour Felix Cho told 9News.
Investigators say they have seen a video from the kidnappers showing Baghsarian with his face covered and his hands taped with duct tape.
"We fear for the safety of the hostage, and we think he may have been harmed," Marks said.
Detectives are investigating whether the intended target was a criminal with links to the Alameddine crime network, who lived nearby.
The Alameddine's are one of Australia's most notorious organised crime groups
The Syndicate has been reported as being on both ends of gang violence in Sydney, including putting out a hit on UFCA fighter Suman Mokhtarian. He was gunned down in broad daylight 18 months later.
Australian media have reported, however, that the gang is dealing with internal struggles leading to violence spilling onto Sydney's streets.
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