Which McDonaldland character was portrayed as a hamburger thief?

The Hamburglar was McDonaldland’s hamburger thief character.

He was introduced as a mischievous figure whose recurring goal was to steal hamburgers. His name, striped clothing, cape, and exaggerated speech made the character immediately recognizable in McDonald’s advertising aimed at children.

The Hamburglar’s appearance changed over time. The earliest version looked older and more sinister, while later campaigns redesigned him as a smaller, younger, cartoon-like character. The redesign made him fit more comfortably alongside Ronald McDonald and the other family-oriented mascots.

The Hamburglar is sometimes confused with Captain Crook, another McDonaldland villain associated with Filet-O-Fish advertising. The Hamburglar’s defining association was with hamburgers, while Captain Crook’s character was tied to fish sandwiches.