The Hamburglar was the McDonald's character known for trying to steal hamburgers after joining the McDonaldland cast in 1971.
The character became part of a fictional world used in McDonald's advertising, alongside Ronald McDonald, Grimace, Mayor McCheese, and other figures. His role gave the advertisements a comic conflict: the Hamburglar wanted hamburgers, while the other characters represented the restaurant and its food.
The earliest version had a more adult and mischievous appearance. McDonald's later redesigned the character into a smaller, childlike figure with a striped outfit and cape, making him more suitable for family-oriented advertising.
The Hamburglar's name is a pun on “hamburger” and “burglar.” He was not the company mascot; Ronald McDonald held that broader role, while the Hamburglar was one character within the McDonaldland ensemble.