Which McDonald's character was known as a thief who tried to steal hamburgers?

The Hamburglar was the McDonald’s character known for trying to steal hamburgers.

He was created as part of McDonaldland, the fictional advertising world McDonald’s developed for children. The character’s name combined “hamburger” with “burglar,” making his role immediately understandable even to young audiences.

The earliest Hamburglar design was a small, older-looking character with a more sinister appearance. McDonald’s later redesigned him as a younger, friendlier figure in a black-and-white striped outfit, helping the character fit the company’s softer family branding.

The Hamburglar is often confused with Grimace because both appeared in McDonaldland commercials. Their roles were different: Grimace was a large purple companion, while the Hamburglar’s recurring gag centered on hamburgers and attempted theft.