The Hamburglar was the McDonald's character known for stealing hamburgers in early McDonaldland campaigns.
The character appeared as part of McDonald's fictional advertising world, which used exaggerated personalities to make the brand memorable to children. The Hamburglar’s central gag was an obsession with hamburgers and attempts to take them, usually while being noticed or stopped by other characters.
His early design was different from the later, simplified version familiar to many viewers. The original character was portrayed as a small, mischievous adult-like figure, while later advertising redesigned him as a child-sized character with a more playful appearance.
The Hamburglar’s role is often confused with other McDonaldland characters. Grimace was associated with a large purple body and changing backstory, while Mayor McCheese was the setting’s civic leader. The Hamburglar’s defining trait was hamburger theft.