Which McDonald's character is a striped-shirt thief who debuted in 1971?

The Hamburglar is the striped-shirt thief character who debuted in McDonald's advertising in 1971.

The character was created as part of McDonaldland, a fantasy setting used to connect McDonald's products with a cast of memorable personalities. Early versions of the Hamburglar had a more elaborate, older appearance, while later redesigns made him smaller, younger-looking, and easier for children to recognize.

His recurring story involved trying to steal hamburgers, especially from Ronald McDonald and the other McDonaldland characters. The joke was playful rather than realistic, turning a negative act into a cartoon adventure suitable for family advertising.

The Hamburglar is often confused with Grimace or Mayor McCheese because all three belonged to the same fictional advertising world. His distinctive name and burglar-inspired costume, however, identify him as the character linked specifically to hamburger theft.