The Hamburglar was the McDonald’s mascot introduced as a character who tried to steal hamburgers.
He became part of the McDonaldland cast and was defined by playful hamburger-related mischief. His striped clothing, cape, and exaggerated personality made him visually distinct in television commercials and promotional artwork.
The character first appeared in 1971, the same year that Grimace entered McDonald’s branding. Later redesigns made the Hamburglar younger and more cartoon-like, but the central idea remained a mischievous character pursuing hamburgers.
The Hamburglar is often confused with Grimace because both belong to the same advertising universe. Grimace was generally portrayed as a friendly companion, while the Hamburglar’s defining role was comic attempted theft. Neither character was the original mascot; Speedee came earlier.