Though the career mode for Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4 is well taken care of by the players, there are several goals and secret objectives in the Airport level that are other than the usual collectibles. Amongst these is the strange but rewarding objective: Stop the Pickpockets.
This challenge forces the player to locate and strike five elusive NPCs that are strategically placed within the Airport. Like other challenges within the Tony Hawk’s games—e.g., Smash the Pumpkins in Suburbia—this challenge forces the player to contend with mobile targets within a time limit. Successful completion of this challenge rewards the player with new material and level progression toward 100% completion.
Brief Description of the Challenge
Your mission is to locate and ram into five pickpockets found around the Airport. These players tend to be walking down primary routes or hid just a little way off the skating path. Skate into them with sufficient velocity to knock them down, causing a “Pickpocket Stopped” on-screen message. Knock out all five in one lap to fulfill the mission.
Pickpocket Locations
Here’s a detailed walkthrough of where to find each of the five pickpockets:
1. Near the Starting Point
As soon as the level begins, turn to the right. Just ahead, you’ll spot the first pickpocket walking along the outer wall near some benches and signage. Skate directly into them to knock them down.
2. Across the Escalators
From the first pickpocket, continue on the main path and look for the escalators on your left side. Cross to the opposite side of the terminal. The second pickpocket is right before the directional sign for Pete’s Cherry shop. Get into line and take them out discreetly.
3. Lower Tunnel – First Path
Head down the first set of escalators that lead to the lower level. After descending, take the tunnel on the right. About halfway through this path, you’ll encounter the third pickpocket. This area has fewer obstacles, so gaining speed to land a hit is easier.
4. Lower Tunnel – Second Path
Keep on the same lower tunnel path. When you arrive at the ‘A’ sign (for SKATE), you will come to a fork. Turn right just before the sign, and another pickpocket will be making his way along the corridor. Get ready to respond quickly because this guy is slightly quicker.
5. End of the Terminal Pathway
For the fifth and final pickpocket, stick with the same lower-level path. From the last pickpocket, turn right and slide forward. The last crook is on the other side of the terminal, where the hallway gets a bit narrower. They are circumnavigating some carts or signs—so keep your wits about you.
Tips for Success
- Build Speed: Use guides and quick grinds between targets to get speed. Pickpockets never require tricks to stop—only tremendous impact.
- Memorize Their Paths: Once you know where each pickpocket spawns and patrols, you can map your routes for a faster clear.
- Use Free Skate Mode: If stopping all five at once is too difficult, try practicing the courses using Free Skate. This takes away the timer and lets you mess around freely.
Disabling the Pickpockets in the Airport mission is a delightful secondary mission that punishes attention to spatial memory and awareness. Although the targets are not difficult to identify once you have an idea of their approximate locations, playing the run through from start to finish does demand some modest route planning and timing. On finishing, you’ll gain progress towards your level completion and unlock additional Pro Goals in the game.
