Grammar: Simple Past vs Past Continuous

We ............... at the paintings when the alarm went off.

While she ............ TV, the lights went out.

As I was driving along the motorway, I ........... police sirens.

Someone ............ into Jim’s car and ............ his CD player last night.

He panicked when he was ......... the robber.

The police ....... the two thieves while they ......... to leave the country.