The Hamburglar was originally designed as a villain who stole hamburgers in McDonald's advertising.
The character was part of the McDonaldland cast and first appeared as a small, sinister-looking figure. His role was simple and memorable: he tried to take hamburgers, especially Big Macs, while Ronald McDonald and the other characters opposed him. The concept turned a product into the object of a playful cartoon chase.
The Hamburglar's appearance changed substantially over time. The earliest version looked more like an older criminal, while the later version became a child-sized character wearing a cape, mask, and striped clothing. This redesign made him less threatening and more suitable for family advertising.
The Hamburglar is sometimes confused with Grimace because both were recurring McDonaldland figures. Their roles were different: the Hamburglar was defined by stealing hamburgers, whereas Grimace was a large purple character whose personality and backstory changed over the years.