Which McDonald’s advertising character was associated with stealing hamburgers?

The Hamburglar was the McDonald’s advertising character associated with stealing hamburgers.

He was created as a mischievous figure in the McDonaldland advertising universe. His defining behavior was attempting to take hamburgers, making him a playful antagonist rather than a genuinely threatening villain.

The Hamburglar’s appearance changed over time. Early versions had a more elaborate, older costume, while later advertising presented him as a smaller, childlike character wearing a striped outfit and mask. Those redesigns can make historical images look like different characters, even though they represent the same brand figure.

The Hamburglar is sometimes confused with Captain Crook, who was associated with Filet-O-Fish promotions. Their food-related identities were different: the Hamburglar targeted hamburgers, while Captain Crook had a fish-themed role.