The Hamburglar was McDonald’s 1970s advertising character known for stealing hamburgers.
The character was introduced as part of McDonald’s expanding group of fictional figures aimed primarily at children. His name combined “hamburger” with the word “burglar,” making his role immediately understandable even to young viewers. He was usually shown trying to take hamburgers while being pursued or discovered by other McDonaldland characters.
The Hamburglar’s appearance changed substantially. The early version looked more like a small adult burglar, while later campaigns presented him as a shorter, childlike character wearing a mask and striped clothing. These redesigns reflected changes in children’s advertising styles and the company’s broader effort to create a consistent fantasy world.
The character is sometimes confused with Grimace or Birdie, who were also McDonald’s mascots. Grimace was associated with shakes and later became a large purple figure, while Birdie represented breakfast and wore a yellow flight suit.