The Hamburglar was introduced in 1971 as a McDonald's character who stole hamburgers.
In his original McDonaldland role, the Hamburglar was a small, mischievous character whose main purpose was to covet and take hamburgers. His striped clothing, cape, and exaggerated criminal persona made him easy to recognize in television commercials and other promotional material.
The character's design and personality changed over time. Early versions were more mysterious and less childlike, while later portrayals presented him as a younger, friendlier figure. This redesign reflected broader changes in how McDonald's used its fictional characters for family marketing.
The Hamburglar is often confused with Grimace because both were introduced as troublesome figures in the early McDonaldland era. Grimace, however, was associated with milkshake theft in his original characterization, whereas the Hamburglar's defining target was hamburgers.