The McDonald’s character known for stealing hamburgers is the Hamburglar.
The Hamburglar was created as part of McDonaldland, the fictional advertising setting used to promote McDonald’s to children. His name and costume made the character’s role immediately clear: he was a playful burger thief rather than a realistic criminal.
The character is often confused with Grimace or Mayor McCheese, who were also recurring McDonaldland figures. The Hamburglar’s striped clothing, cape, and later redesigned appearance distinguished him from those characters.
McDonald’s used the Hamburglar in commercials, packaging, and promotional campaigns for many years. Like other McDonaldland figures, he helped turn the restaurant’s branding into a recognizable cast of characters rather than a collection of isolated advertisements.