Which McDonald’s character was a burglar who tried to steal hamburgers?

Hamburglar was the McDonald’s character portrayed as a burglar who tried to steal hamburgers.

He was one of the central characters in McDonaldland, McDonald’s fictional advertising world. The character’s name combined “hamburger” with “burglar,” making his role immediately clear to children watching the commercials.

Hamburglar’s design changed substantially over time. Early versions looked more like an older small villain, while later advertising presented him as a shorter, childlike character wearing a striped outfit and cape. The redesign helped align the character with McDonald’s family-oriented tone.

Hamburglar is often confused with other McDonaldland figures. Grimace was a large purple character, Birdie promoted breakfast, and Mayor McCheese was the setting’s cheese-headed mayor. Their distinct roles were part of the fictional brand world rather than ordinary restaurant operations.