A parking inspector and his wife in the small German town of Kempten have been apprehended on suspicion of embezzling over €1 million (£878,000) from parking meters. According to local police, the unnamed municipal employee allegedly removed coins from parking meters on multiple occasions and funneled them into bank accounts accessible to his wife. The couple’s scheme came to light after a credit institution flagged suspicious transactions in a money laundering report. The parking inspector now faces 720 counts of theft, while his wife is charged with 720 counts of aiding and abetting theft. Kempten Mayor Thomas Kiechle expressed shock and dismay over the allegations, emphasizing the town’s commitment to transparency and accountability. In October, the Kempten public prosecutor’s office was alerted to repeated cash deposits into several bank accounts, prompting a police raid on November 24. The 40-year-old man and his 38-year-old wife were arrested and are currently held in separate detention facilities. The investigation is ongoing, and the couple’s identities remain undisclosed due to privacy concerns. Mayor Kiechle has announced the formation of a commission to review past work processes, identify vulnerabilities, and implement safeguards to prevent future misconduct. Kempten, one of Germany’s oldest settlements, is located in the southern Allgäu region and is home to approximately 70,000 residents. The town recently celebrated its Bavarian heritage with a vibrant parade in August.