Which McDonaldland character was introduced as a thief who tried to steal hamburgers?

The McDonaldland character introduced as a hamburger thief was the Hamburglar.

The Hamburglar became one of McDonald’s best-known advertising characters. He was portrayed as a mischievous figure whose main goal was to steal hamburgers, especially Big Macs. His striped clothing, mask, and playful behavior made him visually distinctive in McDonaldland commercials and promotional material.

The character was part of a larger fictional community created for McDonald’s advertising. Other figures included Ronald McDonald, Mayor McCheese, Grimace, and Birdie the Early Bird. The Hamburglar’s role was specifically connected to hamburgers and comic pursuit.

The character’s appearance changed over the years. Early versions looked more like a small adult burglar, while a later redesign presented him as a younger, childlike character. These redesigns do not change the character’s central branding role as a hamburger thief.