The Hamburglar was introduced in 1971 as McDonaldland's burger-stealing trickster.
The character was part of a fantasy advertising world created to make McDonald's especially appealing to children. In his original form, the Hamburglar had a more complicated appearance, with a black mask, striped clothing, and an older, mischievous presentation.
McDonald's later redesigned him into a smaller, younger-looking character whose visual identity was easier to recognize. His role stayed centered on hamburgers and playful mischief, while other McDonaldland characters supplied authority, friendship, or comic contrast.
The Hamburglar is distinct from Mayor McCheese, who represented the fictional community's civic leadership. Both characters belong to the same advertising universe, but the Hamburglar's defining story is his repeated attempts to steal hamburgers.