Which McDonald's mascot first appeared in 1971 as a thief who wanted hamburgers?

The Hamburglar first appeared in 1971 as a McDonald's mascot who wanted to steal hamburgers.

He was part of McDonaldland, a fictional world created for McDonald's advertising. The character was originally portrayed as a small, somewhat sinister-looking figure who wore striped clothing and repeatedly tried to take hamburgers.

McDonald's later redesigned the Hamburglar into a more child-friendly character. His role remained recognizable, but his appearance became less threatening and more playful as the company adjusted its advertising for young audiences.

The Hamburglar is sometimes mistaken for Speedee, McDonald's first mascot. Speedee represented fast preparation and service, while the Hamburglar belonged to the later fantasy setting that also included Ronald McDonald, Grimace, and Mayor McCheese.