Which McDonald's character wore striped clothing and was portrayed as a hamburger thief?

The McDonald's character portrayed as a hamburger thief was the Hamburglar.

The Hamburglar was one of the central figures in McDonaldland advertising. His name, striped clothing, and repeated attempts to steal hamburgers made the character immediately identifiable in commercials and promotional material. He was usually presented as a mischievous figure rather than a serious criminal, keeping the concept playful and family-friendly.

The character changed visually over time. Early versions had a more eccentric appearance, while later redesigns made him look younger and more streamlined. Those changes can make historical images seem like different characters, but they represent evolving versions of the same mascot.

The Hamburglar is often confused with Grimace or Mayor McCheese because all three appeared in the same branded universe. Their roles were distinct: the Hamburglar was the food-stealing trickster, Grimace was a friendly purple figure, and Mayor McCheese was the fictional civic leader.