As someone who actually does research in metamaterials/transformation optics, there's little chance that any type of practical cloak is anywhere close. Cloaks have been demonstrated at extremely limited effectiveness and only a couple times period. It's so new that hardly anyone has even looked at bandwidth of the cloaks.
Much of the research is funded by governments (CIA, DoD) but not anywhere near all. Cloaking gets the most interest but there are some amazing other applications of transformation optics.
Hyperlenses have been demonstrated near the optical level which should excite everyone. There are some very interesting applications involving antenna arrays, too, published this year in various places. Theoretically you can make lossless beam benders or beam splitters.
I wouldn't say the real intent is to commit crime. Current demonstrated cloaks have looked like dielectric boards of FR4 or something with copper printed traces and have demonstrated some cloaking at microwave frequencies. Anything like broadband optical cloaking is incredibly far away.