The Hamburglar was introduced in 1971 as a McDonald’s advertising character obsessed with stealing hamburgers.
He became part of McDonaldland, the fictional advertising setting McDonald’s created for its characters and promotions. Early versions portrayed the Hamburglar as a small, mischievous figure whose defining behavior was trying to take hamburgers, especially Big Macs.
The character was later redesigned with a more child-friendly appearance. His familiar later design included a black-and-white outfit, a red cape, and a broad-brimmed hat, making him visually distinct from McDonaldland’s other personalities.
The Hamburglar is often confused with Captain Crook, another McDonaldland character associated with stealing food. Mayor McCheese was the setting’s civic leader, while Officer Big Mac was a police-themed character. The Hamburglar’s defining branding role was the hamburger thief.