'Sherlock' star Benedict Cumberbatch called the police after an obsessed female fan visited his family home several times and left him with a myriad of intriguing clues.

The obsessed female fan is said to have made several uninvited visits to Cumberbatch's family home, which he shares with wife Sophie and baby son Christopher. But during her previous visits she reportedly tied red ribbons to the window of the actor's house and to his car, the Sunday Mirror reported.

After the alarming incident the actor reportedly called the Metropolitan Police and the fan was issued with a Police Information Notice over harassment. The notice forbids the woman from contacting Cumberbatch at his home or anywhere else. He also asked for more security at the London theatre where he is currently performing as he fears that the woman may suddenly visit him there.

According to the report, the actor believes that the woman's clues, that have notified him of her presence, are said to be to be references to Arthur Conan Doyle's novel 'A Study In Scarlet,' where Dr Watson used red ribbons to tie Sherlock's case files together. He was also worried over the woman's disturbing behavior.

"Benedict is used to people mobbing him wherever he goes and he's a good sport about it," a source said to Sunday Mirror. "But this individual has taken things to the next level and there was no option but to pursue official action."

Benedict is used to fame and female admirers but this particular woman seems to have threatened the actor.

"Turning up at professional events is one thing, but arriving uninvited at the family home is quite another," the source said. "It might be that she thinks it's ­harmless, but it does feel a bit sinister. Leaving red ribbons is obviously a bit of a game, but it does feel quite dark."

Benedict Cumberbatch hasn't commented about the incident yet.