The Hamburglar was McDonald's 1971 character designed as a hamburger-stealing prankster.
He joined the McDonaldland advertising cast in 1971. Early versions of the character were more elaborate and somewhat mischievous, while the later, better-known version was a small figure in a black-and-white striped outfit, red cape, and wide-brimmed hat. His recurring gag involved trying to take hamburgers, especially Big Macs.
The Hamburglar's role was comic rather than threatening. His exaggerated behavior gave McDonald's commercials a simple story that children could recognize, while Ronald McDonald and the other characters reinforced the restaurant's family-oriented image.
He is often confused with Captain Crook, another McDonaldland villain associated with Filet-O-Fish sandwiches. The Hamburglar's defining branding trait was his obsession with hamburgers, not seafood.