YOU SAID:

Our thieves are here, or they were.

INTO JAPANESE

我々の泥棒はここにいる、あるいはいた。

BACK INTO ENGLISH

Our thief was here or there.

INTO JAPANESE

泥棒はここかそこにいた

BACK INTO ENGLISH

The thief was here or there.

INTO JAPANESE

泥棒はここかあそこにいた

BACK INTO ENGLISH

The thief was here or there.