The Hamburglar was introduced in 1971 as a striped criminal who stole hamburgers.
The character became part of McDonaldland, McDonald’s fictional advertising world populated by colorful figures. Early versions of the Hamburglar were portrayed as a small, mischievous character with a black-and-white striped outfit, cape, mask, and a strong desire for hamburgers.
His role gave McDonald’s advertising a simple recurring story: the Hamburglar tried to take burgers, while Ronald McDonald and the other characters protected the restaurant’s food and fun. The character was later redesigned to look younger and less threatening, reflecting changes in children’s advertising style.
The Hamburglar is not the same character as Grimace, whose identity changed over time but who became known for his large purple appearance. Mayor McCheese was another McDonaldland figure, recognizable by his cheeseburger-shaped head.