Burgled and hacked: Charlie Wyke recalls the bizarre story of his first hat-trick after maiden Sunderland treble

The striker’s well-taken trio of goals at Plough Lane saw him move into double figures for the season, and was his maiden hat-trick since arriving on Wearside in 2018.

Indeed, it was his first treble since Bradford City’s win over Bristol Rovers in September 2017 and only his third during his playing career.

But perhaps the most memorable of the striker’s hat-tricks was his first in the professional game – even it was ultimately remembered for all the wrong reasons.

Wyke’s first-ever treble came during his time at Carlisle United in 2016, as he helped the Cumbrians to a 5-2 win over Mansfield Town during an impressive start to the season for player and club.

But what should have been a day to remember quickly became that for all the wrong reasons for Wyke and his family – when he returned home to find his house had been burgled and his car taken from the drive.

And things then went from bad to worse, when the striker also saw his Twitter account hacked on the same evening.

Recalling the story after the Wimbledon game, Wyke said: “The first time I scored a hat-trick I got home, my house had been burgled and my car had been pinched - and my Twitter got hacked on the same day.

"Hopefully I get home today and my car is still there!”

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