Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy
First of all, yes — that was the Secret Service at the Duane Reade/Walgreens on Avenue B and Second Street this morning.
The Secret Service was part of a multi-agency investigation after a skimming device was discovered in the store's Citi ATM ... part of an ongoing federal investigation into fraud known as Operation Flagship.
The device — a slim, nearly invisible metal bar with a pinhole camera — was attached to the right-hand side of the ATM and designed to steal card information and PIN codes, which are then sold on the dark web.
Law enforcement officials on the scene showed me the skimmer but requested that it not be photographed or touched as the device is part of an active investigation.
According to investigators, these skimmers are frequently found in lower-income neighborhoods and areas where EBT cards are commonly used.
The agencies involved in the operation included the U.S. Secret Service, the USSS Police and Criminal Investigation Division, and the NYPD Task Force. While the Secret Service is known primarily for presidential protection, it also investigates complex financial crimes, including fraud.
Despite the presence of multiple law enforcement agencies, operations inside Walgreens appeared to continue as usual, with staff largely unfazed.
Also, no one ran out of the store with a 12-pack of Budweiser while this investigation took place.
Given how quickly the hawklets grow on that steady diet of pigeons and rats, they are likely 2x this size by now. 
