Which McDonaldland character was known for trying to steal hamburgers?

The Hamburglar was the McDonaldland character known for trying to steal hamburgers.

McDonald's introduced the Hamburglar as part of a fictional world built around Ronald McDonald and other branded characters. In early versions, he was an older, somewhat sinister figure whose identity centered on hamburgers and mischievous behavior.

The character was later redesigned as a smaller, younger-looking figure wearing a striped outfit and cape. This change made him more playful and approachable for children while preserving the basic hamburger-stealing joke.

The Hamburglar is often confused with Grimace, but their advertising roles were different. Grimace eventually became a friendly purple companion, whereas the Hamburglar's defining trait was his attempt to take hamburgers. The character helped McDonald's turn its mascots into a connected brand world rather than isolated spokespeople.