The Hamburglar was introduced in 1971 as a striped-shirted thief who stole hamburgers.
The Hamburglar became one of the central characters in McDonaldland, McDonald's fantasy advertising world. His early design presented him as a small, mischievous figure wearing striped clothing and a cape, with an obsession with taking hamburgers.
McDonald's later redesigned the character, making him taller and more human-looking while keeping the basic thief concept. The Hamburglar appeared alongside Ronald McDonald, Grimace, Mayor McCheese, and other characters in commercials, promotional materials, and licensed products.
The character's name is a pun on “hamburger” and “burglar.” He was not the same figure as Speedee, the company's earlier mascot, and he was not a product mascot in the way the Big Mac or Egg McMuffin represented specific menu items.