What was the name of McDonald's 1970s character who tried to steal hamburgers?

The Hamburglar was McDonald's 1970s character who tried to steal hamburgers.

The Hamburglar became one of the most recognizable figures in the McDonaldland advertising world. He was portrayed as a small, mischievous character whose obsession was taking hamburgers, creating a simple comic conflict in commercials and promotional material. His striped clothing and distinctive speech made him easy for children to identify.

The character's design changed over time. Early versions were more sinister-looking, while later versions were made younger and friendlier. Those redesigns can make historical images appear to show different characters, but they represent later interpretations of the same Hamburglar identity.

The Hamburglar should not be confused with Mayor McCheese, another McDonaldland figure, or with Ronald McDonald, the brand's principal clown character. Together, the figures helped McDonald's build a recurring cast rather than relying only on product-focused advertising.