Green’s Dictionary of Slang

1. to obtain a new supply of money.

1785, 1788, 1796		Grose Classical Dict. of the Vulgar Tongue.
1799		Sporting Mag. Apr. XIV 40/1: I hope to recruit again soon.
1811		Lex. Balatronicum.

2. (und.) to search out a suitable target for robbery.

1859		Matsell Vocabulum 73: recruiting Thieves hunting for plunder.
1895		C. Crowe Aus. Sl. Dict. 66: Recruiting, thieves looking for plunder.