The Paterson Police Department and Paterson Animal Control are still trying to find the people responsible for stealing two rescued pit bulls from the city animal shelter.

The theft happened earlier this week. The crime was caught on the shelter's surveillance camera. A person dressed in blue can be seen lurking around the shelter. When he spots the dogs, the person cut through the outside fence and the dogs' cages.

The two pit bulls were previously rescued on May 1 from a dogfighting ring. Police believe people associated with that ring are also responsible for stealing the dogs.

"They stole the two dogs that were their prize dogs," Robert Boyle, of the Passaic County SPCA said in an interview with News 12 New Jersey earlier this week.

Now officials want the dogs back.

"Somebody out there knows something. Have a heart. Make a phone call," says John DeCando with Paterson Animal Control. "We are in dire need to get these dogs back."

The Associated Humane Societies is offering a $5,000 reward for the arrest and conviction of those responsible for the theft.