The 17-year-old left a trail of blood at the scene after he cut a major artery in his upper leg while trying to climb through a broken window.

The teenager is believed to have broken into the school through the window of a portable building some time before 7pm.

He is believed to have stolen a number of laptop computers before cutting himself on the broken glass.

Detective Sergeant Mark McClure of the Bendigo crime investigation unit said the teenager stumbled across the road to a nearby property where the occupants called triple zero.

He said when officers arrived the scene looked like something out of a horror movie.

“He had lost a lot of blood.

“There was a significant amount of blood left at the scene and leading from the scene to a nearby house. He is extremely lucky to be alive.’’

Ambulance Victoria spokesman John Mullen said paramedics arrived at 7.25pm and were able to stabilise the teenager.

He was then driven to the Bendigo Hospital in a serious but stable condition and taken into surgery.

Anyone who believes they have information on the burglary or saw a person or group of people acting suspiciously in the area is urged to contact Detective Sergeant McClure at the Bendigo police station on 5448 1370 or call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.