PLEASE NOTE: Images of the vehicle fire are available on NSWPF social media pages.
Robbery & Serious Crime Squad detectives investigating the kidnapping of Chris Baghsarian are appealing for public information after suspicious vehicle fires in Westmead earlier this week.
About 11.30pm on Tuesday (17 February 2026), emergency services responded to reports of two vehicles alight on Good Street, Westmead.
Officers attached to Cumberland Police Area Command attended the location, along with Fire and Rescue NSW, who extinguished the blaze.
The vehicles were partially destroyed; however, detectives were able to establish the targeted vehicle was a 2022 Toyota Corolla bearing Victorian registration '1UZ2BU', reported stolen from a Victorian address on Friday 13 January 2026.
Local police established a crime scene before an investigation commenced by detectives attached to State Crime Command's Robbery & Serious Crime Squad, under Strike Force Chobat.
Strike Force Chobat was established to coordinate the response to recover 85-year-old Chris Baghsarian, who was kidnapped from his home in North Ryde on Friday 13 February 2026. Investigators believe the Toyota Corolla in the images released is linked to the crime scene at an address in Dural, which is determined to be linked to the kidnapping.
As the intensive investigation continues to locate Mr Baghsarian and to identify and arrest those responsible for his kidnapping, police are appealing for further public assistance.
Anyone who may have seen or heard anything, or has CCTV, dashcam and or mobile footage relating to the kidnapping, or witnessed any sort of suspicious activity in the Westmead area since last Friday is urged to contact detectives.
Anyone with information about this incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. Information is managed on a confidential basis. The public is reminded not to report information via NSW Police social media pages.
