What McDonald’s brand character was introduced in 1971 as a thief who stole hamburgers?

The Hamburglar was introduced in 1971 as a McDonald’s character who stole hamburgers.

He became one of the central figures in McDonaldland, the fantasy setting created for McDonald’s advertising. In his early design, the Hamburglar had a more elaborate and somewhat sinister appearance, including striped clothing and a mask. His repeated attempts to take hamburgers gave commercials a simple comic conflict.

The character was later redesigned to look younger and friendlier, with a smaller body and a more child-oriented appearance. That change reflected McDonald’s broader effort to make its advertising world approachable for families rather than genuinely threatening.

The Hamburglar is often confused with Grimace, whose role and appearance changed over time, or with Mayor McCheese, the burger-headed civic leader. The character’s name is a pun combining “hamburger” with “burglar,” making his role clear even to viewers unfamiliar with English-language advertising.