Which McDonald's character was known as a striped-shirt burger thief?

The Hamburglar was McDonald's striped-shirt burger thief character.

He was one of the best-known figures in McDonaldland advertising, where his mischievous personality revolved around hamburgers. The character's striped clothing, cape, mask, and repeated attempts to obtain burgers gave McDonald's a simple comic storyline for commercials and promotional material.

The Hamburglar's appearance changed over time. Early versions were smaller and more creature-like, while a later redesign presented him as a younger, more human-looking character. These changes reflected broader shifts in children's advertising and in the visual style McDonald's used for its fictional world.

The Hamburglar is sometimes confused with Grimace or Mayor McCheese because all three appeared in McDonaldland. His defining branding role was different: he was the burger-focused prankster and thief, while Grimace became a friendly companion and Mayor McCheese represented the fictional town's government.