Which McDonaldland character was introduced as a hamburger-stealing prankster?

The Hamburglar was introduced as McDonaldland’s hamburger-stealing prankster.

The character became one of McDonald’s best-known advertising figures after appearing in the McDonaldland campaign. His defining joke was an obsession with taking hamburgers, which made him a mischievous foil for Ronald McDonald and the other characters.

The Hamburglar’s appearance changed over time. Early versions were depicted as a more sinister-looking adult character, while later advertising presented him as a smaller, childlike figure. The redesign made the character friendlier and more suitable for children’s marketing.

The Hamburglar is often confused with Grimace because both were recurring McDonaldland figures. Grimace was associated with a large purple body and a much gentler personality. Mayor McCheese, by contrast, was a civic-style character with a cheeseburger head.