Which McDonald's mascot was introduced in 1971 as a burglar who stole hamburgers?

The Hamburglar was introduced in 1971 as a McDonald's mascot who stole hamburgers.

The character became part of McDonaldland, the fictional setting used in McDonald's advertising and packaging. In his original portrayal, the Hamburglar was a small, mischievous figure dressed like a burglar, with a strong obsession with taking hamburgers. His repeated attempts to get burgers created a simple comic conflict for children's commercials.

The character's appearance changed over time. Early versions looked more like an older, goblin-like troublemaker, while a later redesign presented him as a younger, more childlike figure. His name remained a direct wordplay on “hamburger” and “burglar.”

The Hamburglar is sometimes confused with Grimace or Mayor McCheese, who were also McDonaldland figures. Grimace was associated with a large purple body and an evolving backstory, while Mayor McCheese had a cheeseburger-shaped head. The Hamburglar's defining branding role was the burger-stealing trick.