Which McDonald’s character was known for trying to steal hamburgers?

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

He was one of the recurring figures in McDonaldland advertising and was portrayed as a mischievous character whose main obsession was McDonald’s hamburgers. His name directly combined “hamburger” with the word “burglar.”

The character’s appearance changed over time. Early versions looked more like an old-fashioned small criminal, while later advertising presented a younger, more cartoon-like figure in a striped outfit and cape. These redesigns helped keep the character aligned with changing advertising styles.

The Hamburglar is distinct from Captain Crook, who was associated with Filet-O-Fish promotions. Grimace also had a different role and was not defined by stealing hamburgers.