Which McDonaldland character was specifically associated with stealing hamburgers?

The Hamburglar was the McDonaldland character specifically associated with stealing hamburgers.

The character was created as a mischievous figure whose main goal was to take McDonald's hamburgers. His name made the joke immediately understandable, combining “hamburger” with “burglar” in a child-friendly piece of wordplay.

The Hamburglar's appearance changed substantially over the years. Early versions looked more like a small adult thief, while the best-known later version was a childlike character wearing a striped outfit, cape, mask, and hat. The redesign made him more playful and less threatening for family advertising.

The Hamburglar is often confused with Grimace because both began as troublemakers in McDonaldland. Their targets were different: the Hamburglar pursued hamburgers, while early Grimace advertising involved milkshakes. Both characters were eventually presented in a more friendly, comic style as McDonald's refined its family branding.