What was the name of McDonald’s thief character introduced in McDonaldland advertising?

The Hamburglar was McDonald’s thief character in McDonaldland advertising.

He was introduced in the early 1970s as a mischievous figure whose comic goal was to steal hamburgers. His striped clothing, cape, mask, and exaggerated behavior made him visually distinct in McDonald’s television commercials and promotional materials. The character’s name turned the word “hamburger” into a memorable comic identity.

The Hamburglar’s appearance changed over time. The earliest version looked more like a small, older criminal, while later redesigns presented him as a younger, more stylized character. Those changes reflected shifts in children’s advertising and in the visual language of animated mascots.

The Hamburglar is sometimes confused with Captain Crook, a separate McDonaldland character associated with Filet-O-Fish promotions. He is also not the same as Mayor McCheese, whose role was civic and ceremonial. The Hamburglar’s lasting branding value came from a simple visual joke: a character so obsessed with hamburgers that his name and costume announced the product he wanted.