Which McDonald’s character was portrayed as a hamburger-stealing villain?

The Hamburglar was portrayed as a hamburger-stealing villain in McDonald’s advertising.

He was one of the characters associated with McDonaldland, the fictional advertising world introduced in the early 1970s. His role was simple and memorable: he tried to take hamburgers, especially McDonald’s products, while Ronald McDonald and other characters opposed him.

The Hamburglar’s appearance changed significantly over the years. The early version was more villainous and wore a striped outfit, mask and cape. A later redesign made him look younger and more cartoon-like, with a red cape and a distinctive outfit.

The character is sometimes confused with Mayor McCheese, who was a civic figure in McDonaldland, or with Grimace, whose role changed over time. The Hamburglar’s defining branding trait was his obsession with stealing hamburgers.