Police have identified a vacant house in Sydney‘s northwest where they believe a mistakenly kidnapped grandfather was held. The 85-year-old remains missing.

Chris Baghsarian was dragged from his North Ryde home by three men and bundled into an SUV about 5am last Friday.

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Despite police appealing for his release — saying they were “a million per cent confident” the kidnappers had targeted the wrong man — Baghsarian has not been returned.

Detectives swarmed a property on Wildthorn Ave in the semi-rural suburb of Dural about 7pm on Thursday, believing it was where he had been kept for some time.

Detective Acting Superintendent Andrew Marks said images and videos circulating online helped police identify the house.

Shocking footage showed Baghsarian bloodied, tied up and with a shirt wrapped around his head. Another image appears to show one of his fingers severed.

“We’ve been following a trail of evidence that we believe identifies or implicates people that may be involved,” Marks said.

“We’ve used those leads, and along with information that we’ve received from the community, (which) led us to the Dural area.”

Marks said the property was a vacant, derelict house that had been abandoned for a number of years.

Police believe the vacant property, which is not visible from the street, was used as a makeshift stronghold by the kidnappers.

The sprawling residence, last sold in 2017 for more than $3.7 million, includes a triple-garage, home theatre and in-ground pool with a waterfall feature.

Seven bedrooms are set over three locations on the two-hectare property, including a self-contained cottage.

Marks said police were hopeful of gathering more evidence to identify those responsible and determine Baghsarian’s current location.

Marks described locating the house as a “significant progression” in the investigation, but said hope was fading of finding Baghsarian alive.

“It’s been seven days now, so hope is fading,” he said.

“We have grave concerns for his safety, but we won’t give up trying to find him alive.”

Authorities fear Baghsarian’s life may be at risk without his daily medication.

In a statement released on Tuesday, his family said they were struggling to comprehend how their loved one had been caught up in a crime that had “nothing to do with us”.

“Our family is living through a nightmare we never thought possible,” they said.

“Chris’s kidnapping feels surreal, and we are struggling to make sense of the fact that he has been taken and that our family has been caught up in something that has nothing to do with us.

“Chris is a devoted father, brother, uncle, and grandfather. He is deeply loved, gentle, and the kindest person we know — someone who would never hurt a fly.”

Marks reiterated on Friday that Baghsarian and his family had no links to criminal or underworld activity.

No ransom has been demanded, leaving police to appeal directly to the kidnappers to return the grandfather to a safe location.

Police are urging anyone who may have seen or heard anything relating to the kidnapping — or any suspicious activity in the Dural area since last Friday — to come forward.

Anyone with dashcam footage is also urged to contact detectives.