The Hamburglar was the striped-shirted burger thief in McDonald's McDonaldland advertising universe.
The character was created as part of the colorful cast surrounding Ronald McDonald. His recurring role was to try to steal hamburgers, turning a simple food product into the center of a playful story that could be repeated across television commercials and promotional material.
The Hamburglar's appearance changed over time. Early versions were more sinister-looking, while later redesigns presented him as a smaller, friendlier character with a more child-oriented style. These changes reflected broader shifts in advertising standards and McDonald's family branding.
The Hamburglar is often mixed up with Grimace or Mayor McCheese, but each character had a distinct role. Grimace was a large purple companion, while Mayor McCheese was a character with a cheeseburger-shaped head. The Hamburglar's defining theme was his attempted burger theft.