The Hamburglar was the 1970s McDonald's character known for wearing a black-and-white striped outfit and a mask.
His costume drew on familiar visual ideas associated with a cartoon thief: stripes, a cape, gloves, and a mask. The design made his role immediately understandable to children even before he spoke or interacted with other McDonaldland characters.
The Hamburglar's story was simple and repetitive. He wanted hamburgers, attempted to take them, and was usually stopped or exposed. That recurring plot connected the character directly to McDonald's signature food while creating a playful source of conflict.
The character is sometimes confused with the Fry Kids, who were colorful mascots associated with fries, or Birdie, who promoted breakfast. The striped masked figure was specifically the Hamburglar.