Which McDonaldland character was known for stealing hamburgers?

The Hamburglar was the McDonaldland character known for stealing hamburgers.

He appeared as a mischievous figure whose repeated goal was to take McDonald’s hamburgers. The character’s name combined “hamburger” with “burglar,” making his role immediately understandable to audiences even before a commercial explained the joke.

The Hamburglar’s appearance changed over time. Early versions were portrayed as more sinister or adult-like, while a later redesign made him shorter, younger-looking, and more child-friendly. His costume retained strong visual branding through dark colors, a cape, and distinctive accessories.

The character is sometimes confused with Captain Crook, who was associated with Filet-O-Fish products, or with Grimace, who had a completely different role. The Hamburglar belonged to the wider McDonaldland cast and was used to create playful conflict around the restaurant’s food. His prominence declined as McDonald’s moved away from large-scale McDonaldland storytelling, but the name remains one of the company’s most recognizable character inventions.