Which McDonald’s character was created as a thief who loved hamburgers?

The Hamburglar was the McDonald’s character created as a thief who loved hamburgers.

He first appeared in McDonaldland advertising during the early 1970s. The original version had a more sinister, adult-like appearance, but McDonald’s later redesigned him as a smaller, friendlier character aimed at children.

The Hamburglar’s recurring story was simple: he tried to steal hamburgers, especially Big Macs, while Ronald McDonald and other characters thwarted him. His striped clothing, cape, mask, and exaggerated speech made him visually distinct in television commercials and merchandise.

The character is sometimes confused with Captain Crook, another McDonaldland figure associated with Filet-O-Fish promotions. Grimace was not a hamburger thief; he was a separate purple character whose design and role also changed over time.