The Hamburglar was introduced as a McDonaldland character in 1971.
He was created as a mischievous, hamburger-obsessed figure who tried to steal hamburgers from McDonald’s. His early appearance was more sinister and childlike, with a black-and-white striped outfit, a mask, and a cape. McDonald’s later redesigned him into a smaller, friendlier character with a red cape and more playful appearance.
The Hamburglar was part of a larger fictional advertising setting called McDonaldland. That world also included Ronald McDonald, Grimace, Mayor McCheese, and other characters. The characters helped McDonald’s connect its food products with an imaginative story environment aimed primarily at children.
The Hamburglar is sometimes confused with Grimace because both were recurring McDonaldland figures. Their roles were different: the Hamburglar’s defining joke involved stealing hamburgers, while Grimace was generally portrayed as a friendly companion. The character’s name itself combines “hamburger” with the word “burglar.”