Which McDonald's mascot was known for trying to steal hamburgers in the 1970s?

The Hamburglar was McDonald's mascot known for trying to steal hamburgers in the 1970s.

He was one of the central characters in McDonaldland advertising, where his recurring storyline involved attempting to take hamburgers while Ronald McDonald and other characters stopped him. The character gave McDonald's commercials a simple comic conflict that could be understood quickly by children.

The Hamburglar's appearance changed over time. His earliest version looked more like a small adult burglar, while the later redesign presented him as a childlike character wearing a cape and distinctive clothing. These changes reflected McDonald's broader effort to make its mascots friendlier and more appealing to families.

The Hamburglar is not the same character as Captain Crook, who was associated with Filet-O-Fish advertising, or Grimace, whose role evolved separately. The Hamburglar's name directly combines “hamburger” with “burglar,” making his branding function clear even without dialogue.