Rosemary Maria Kaberra reported on Monday (September 16) that she had been walking along Soi Kaetkwan in Karon at about 2 am when the duo came alongside on a motorbike and snatched the camera from her shoulder.
She was unable to give police the make or number of the bike, so they checked security cameras around the area.
Just over a day later, acting on what they saw in the camera footage, officers arrested a 22-year-old Thai man, Kanin Kongchana and a Burmese teenager who cannot be named because he is under 18 years of age.
They also recovered the stolen camera and seized a Yamaha Fino motorbike used in the robbery.
Both confessed to the theft and were taken to Karon Police Station where they were booked on a charge of robbery while using motorised transport.
Pol Maj Gen Choti Chavalviwat, Commander of Phuket Provincial Police, praised to Karon officers for their swift action.
The camera was returned to the delighted tourist, who also said how impressed she was with the efficiency of the police and how grateful she was to get her Nikon back.