Which McDonald's character was known as the chain's masked hamburger thief?

The Hamburglar was McDonald's masked hamburger thief character.

The Hamburglar became part of the McDonaldland group of fictional characters used in McDonald's advertising. His basic role was simple: he tried to steal hamburgers, especially from Ronald McDonald and the other characters. The joke made hamburgers the center of a playful fantasy world aimed at children.

The character's appearance changed over time. Early versions looked more like a small adult burglar, while later advertising presented him as a younger, childlike figure wearing a black-and-white outfit, cape, and mask. His repeated “robble, robble” speech became a recognizable character trait.

The Hamburglar is sometimes confused with Captain Crook, another McDonaldland villain associated with Filet-O-Fish sandwiches. Their targets were different: the Hamburglar focused on hamburgers, while Captain Crook was linked to fish sandwiches. These characters helped McDonald's give individual menu items distinct personalities.