A MAN has been charged after police officers responded to reports of a burglary in progress in Ringwood.

The charges come after a business owner on the Parkside industrial site told police about an alarm activation at around 11.15am on Sunday (January 17).

Darren Whitcher, aged 48, of Pat Bear Close, Southampton was charged with one count of theft and one count of criminal damage.

He was bailed but is next due to appear at Southampton Magistrates Court on March 4.