The Hamburglar was McDonald's striped character known for stealing hamburgers.
He became part of McDonaldland, the fictional advertising setting populated by McDonald's characters. The Hamburglar's name, costume, and exaggerated behavior all communicated the same simple idea: he was obsessed with taking hamburgers. That direct connection made him easy for viewers to recognize in short television commercials.
The character changed substantially over time. The earliest Hamburglar design looked older and more mischievous, while a later version was presented as a smaller, younger character with a more playful appearance. McDonald's kept the name and basic premise while updating the visual style for newer audiences.
The Hamburglar is often mistaken for a general McDonald's mascot because he was heavily featured in advertising. Ronald McDonald, however, was the principal brand character. Grimace and Mayor McCheese were also McDonaldland figures, but neither had the Hamburglar's signature striped outfit or hamburger-stealing role.