Which McDonald's character debuted in 1971 as a striped, burger-stealing villain?

The Hamburglar debuted in 1971 as McDonald's striped, burger-stealing villain.

His original design was more sinister than the later version most people recognize. The character wore black-and-white stripes, gloves, and a broad-brimmed outfit, presenting him as a comical criminal who wanted to take hamburgers. McDonald's later softened his appearance and personality for a younger audience.

The Hamburglar became one of the best-known figures in McDonaldland, the fictional advertising setting introduced in the same period. His recurring goal created a simple story for commercials: he attempted to steal burgers while Ronald McDonald and the other characters protected the restaurant's food.

The character is sometimes confused with Officer Big Mac or Mayor McCheese, who also belonged to McDonaldland. Those figures represented authority or civic roles, whereas the Hamburglar was specifically defined by his burger-stealing behavior. His name is a wordplay combining “hamburger” with “burglar.”