The Hamburglar was the McDonald's character associated with stealing hamburgers and wearing a striped costume and cape.
He belonged to McDonaldland, the fictional world used in McDonald's advertising from the late 1960s onward. His mischievous burger-stealing behavior gave commercials a recurring story line and made him one of the chain's most recognizable supporting mascots.
The character's appearance changed substantially over time. Early versions looked older and more sinister, while the 1985 redesign presented a younger, more cartoon-like figure. The familiar striped clothing remained an important visual cue across the character's evolution.
The Hamburglar is often confused with Captain Crook, another McDonaldland character whose stories centered on Filet-O-Fish sandwiches. Mayor McCheese represented the fictional community's mayor, while Grimace was a separate purple character associated in early stories with milkshakes.