The Hamburglar was McDonald’s 1971 advertising character known for stealing hamburgers. He became one of the central figures in the McDonaldland fantasy world used in the chain’s family marketing.
Early versions of the Hamburglar had a more sinister, small-time-thief appearance. McDonald’s later redesigned him with a younger, friendlier look, showing how the company adjusted its characters for children and family audiences.
The Hamburglar is often confused with Grimace, whose role was associated with milkshake cups, or with Captain Crook, who was linked to Filet-O-Fish advertising. These characters were separate members of the same fictional advertising setting.