What character joined the McDonald's advertising cast in 1971 as a playful burger thief?

The Hamburglar joined the McDonald's advertising cast in 1971 as a playful burger thief.

He was introduced as part of McDonaldland, a fictional setting populated by characters connected to McDonald's food and restaurant experience. The Hamburglar's defining behavior was trying to steal hamburgers, especially Big Macs, while being pursued or exposed by the other characters.

The character's appearance changed substantially over time. The earliest version was more sinister-looking and wore striped clothing, while later redesigns made him shorter, younger-looking, and more cartoonish. His recognizable striped outfit and cape remained important visual cues.

The Hamburglar was not the same character as Speedee or Ronald McDonald. Speedee represented early fast service, and Ronald was the central clown mascot; the Hamburglar belonged to the later McDonaldland ensemble.