Brad Pitt has developed a "radar" to help spot obsessed fans after two scary encounters left him wary of meeting the public.

The Hollywood icon insists he rarely feels threatened when he's approached by devotees, but a few experiences have taught him some easy ways of slipping out of an awkward situation.

The Seven actor tells Total Film magazine, "I've had break-ins in the house before. A few years ago, a girl broke in the house (sic). Hatred doesn't happen very often, but I have run into it. You feel it, at times... You develop a radar over the years."

"It's very rare, but I've run into a couple of unbalanced people and you feel it when you're approached by them and you know how to get out."