Multiple outlets report claims that adult offenders use Victoria’s residential care system to recruit children into criminal activity. The reporting says offenders allegedly use a mix of money, drugs, and “affection” to lure young people and persuade them to participate in crime. The accounts describe a process of conditioning and grooming in which children are targeted while in care, with the aim of drawing them into offending. The coverage focuses on residential care settings as a vulnerability point where relationships with adults outside formal supports can be exploited. While the specific nature of the crimes is not detailed in the provided summaries, the common theme across sources is that manipulation involving financial incentives, substance use, and emotional attention plays a role in recruiting and influencing children. The outlets describe these alleged practices as coordinated rather than incidental, indicating that offenders may systematically identify and approach young people in care. The reports treat the issue as serious and urgent, highlighting concerns about child safety and the effectiveness of protections within residential care.