The Hamburglar was introduced in 1971 as a masked burger thief in McDonald's advertising.
He became one of the recurring McDonaldland characters, usually depicted trying to steal hamburgers while Ronald McDonald and other characters pursued him. The character's name combined “hamburger” with “burglar,” making his role immediately understandable to young audiences.
The original Hamburglar looked considerably older and more sinister than later versions. McDonald's redesigned him in the 1980s with a smaller, childlike appearance and a more playful personality.
The Hamburglar is often mixed up with Captain Crook, another McDonaldland villain associated with Filet-O-Fish sandwiches. Their targets were different, and the Hamburglar's defining association was specifically with hamburgers.