The Hamburglar was introduced in 1971 as a burger-stealing prankster for McDonald's advertising.
The character became part of the McDonaldland fantasy setting, where animated or costumed figures interacted with Ronald McDonald and promoted the restaurant's food. His defining behavior was trying to take hamburgers, especially Big Macs, while being caught or chased.
The original Hamburglar looked different from the later version familiar to many viewers. Early depictions were older and more mischievous, while later redesigns made him shorter, younger-looking, and more recognizable to children.
The Hamburglar is sometimes confused with Grimace because both were central McDonaldland characters. Their roles were different: the Hamburglar was defined by comic theft, while Grimace was associated with a large purple appearance and an evolving personality. The character became one of the clearest examples of McDonald's using recurring personalities to build brand recognition.