Hamburglar was introduced in 1971 as McDonald’s hamburger-stealing mascot.
The character became part of McDonald’s McDonaldland advertising universe, which presented the restaurant’s food and characters in a colorful fictional setting. Hamburglar was portrayed as a small, mischievous figure whose recurring goal was to steal hamburgers.
His early appearance was more elaborate and somewhat eerie than the version many later viewers remember. McDonald’s eventually redesigned him with a younger, friendlier look, making the character more suitable for children’s advertising and merchandise.
Hamburglar is distinct from Grimace, whose role and design changed over time, and from Officer Big Mac, another McDonaldland figure. The character’s name is a pun combining “hamburger” with “burglar,” a naming style common among the campaign’s characters.