The Hamburglar was the McDonaldland character known for stealing hamburgers and wearing a striped outfit.
The character became one of McDonald’s most recognizable advertising figures during the 1970s. His name combined “hamburger” with “burglar,” immediately explaining the joke behind his role. Early versions were presented as a small, mischievous character dressed in a black-and-white striped outfit.
The Hamburglar appeared in commercials with Ronald McDonald and the rest of the McDonaldland cast. Later redesigns made him look younger and more cartoon-like, but the central hamburger-stealing theme remained.
The Hamburglar is sometimes mixed up with Captain Crook, another food-themed McDonaldland villain. Captain Crook was associated with Filet-O-Fish sandwiches, whereas the Hamburglar’s defining target was hamburgers.