If you find yourself waiting for an elevator with a suspicious person, mutter an excuse like “Oh, my mail!” and move to a safer area.

Inside the elevator, stand with your back against one of the walls.  This way, you minimize your exposure to a potential pickpocket.

Always stand near the control panel.  If someone makes a menacing move, hit as many floor buttons as possible as well as the alarm button.

Make sure the elevator is going in the direction you intend to go.  If you’re going up, elevators heading to the garage or basement may deliver you to waiting attackers.

Listen to your intuition.  If you don’t like the looks of someone in the elevator car, don’t get on.  If you’re already on, get off at the next floor.