The Hamburglar was McDonald's fictional character introduced as a hamburger thief.
The Hamburglar became one of the best-known members of McDonald's fictional advertising world. His name combines “hamburger” with the word “burglar,” making his role immediately understandable: he tried to take hamburgers, especially from the McDonaldland characters.
The character's appearance changed over time. Early versions were more childlike and mischievous, while a later redesign presented him as a smaller figure wearing a black-and-white outfit, red cape, and wide-brimmed hat. These changes sometimes lead audiences to treat the versions as separate characters.
The Hamburglar was not the same as Grimace, whose earliest advertising also involved stealing milkshakes, or Captain Crook, who was associated with Filet-O-Fish sandwiches. Each character represented a different part of McDonald's promotional storytelling.